Nectarine & Vanilla Chia Pudding - Two Ways

5/25/2016

Nectarine & Vanilla Chia Pudding - Two Ways

It's been far too long since our last Wellness Wednesday recipe post and I'm blaming it all on our incredible trip to Italy, which just ended about a week ago. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat, then you probably witnessed Mitch and I enjoying lots of delicious pizza, pasta, and gelato all day, every day. When in Florence, right?! The food is such a huge part of the traveling experience (one of my favorite parts, obviously!), and it's my firm belief that when you're wandering through a beautiful city and walking about 10 miles a day, indulging in the amazing food is an absolute MUST!  I'll never regret eating that pizza with the perfect chewy crust, BUT when I get home, it's a real reality check. Wait, I can't have a croissant for breakfast, and gelato for a snack? I'm not going to have pasta for dinner 16 days in a row? Begrudgingly, I reminded myself that I'm in school to be a nutritionist and it was time to get back to my salads, lean protein, and CHIA PUDDING. As much as I may daydream about eating my way through Florence again, I have to admit that it feels pretty good to be back on track. And when this Nectarine & Vanilla Chia Pudding is stocked in my fridge, healthy snacking is pretty easy and delicious. 

So this Chia Pudding comes two ways - one is your typical chia pudding with the full seeds (my personal favorite) and the other is more of a traditional pudding consistency that's smooth and creamy since the chia seeds have been blended. I know people are picky about their pudding texture, so you get to choose! Both are absolutely delish and you can't go wrong either way. The nectarines are the real star of this recipe. I've been stocking up at the Farmer's Market (yay for stone fruit season!) and they're like candy - sooo juicy and sweet. The perfect addition to chia pudding! I blended the nectarine with almond milk, vanilla, and my favorite protein powder before mixing it with the chia seeds. So besides being 

Ingredients
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 nectarine or peach
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder (I use Perfect Fit)
Optional: your favorite toppings! I like strawberries, nectarine, shredded coconut, and Paleo Granola
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Yields 2 large servings or 4 snack-sized servings. 

For the smoother pudding:
Blend all ingredients  (including chia seeds) in a high-powered blender for a couple minutes until smooth (no full seeds remain). Pour into a container with a lid and refrigerate. Mix after 30 minutes. Store in refrigerator. 

For the original chia pudding:
Pour chia seeds into a container. Blend almond milk, protein, vanilla, and nectarine. Pour mixture over chia seeds and stir well with a spoon. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for several hours or overnight (stirring again after 30 minutes). 

Feel free to swap out nectarine in this recipe for any other fruit. Last time, I used banana and I also used half almond milk and half canned coconut milk, and it turned out super creamy and tasted like an indulgent dessert. As long as you have a good chia to liquid ratio (1/4 cup chia : 1 cup liquid works great), you can pretty much add your favorite fruit, spices (cinnamon!), and toppings, and it will always be a hit!  

ENJOY!