Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

on July 31, 2010
in All Posts

Not this kind of chia:

This kind of chia!

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After seeing all over the blog world for the last year, I finally caved and bought my own bag.  This bag was only $9.99 at Earthfare, but the benefits of 1 tablespoon of the little seeds is what really won me over.  Packed with calcium, fiber, Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s, the seeds have a neutral taste, which makes them more appealing to me on a daily basis than flax (which is nutty).

 

Plus… chia seeds are great for athletes because they are highly hydrophilic. This means it absorbs large amounts of water, making them a great enhancer in hydrating our bodies (source).  The back of my packet of chia seeds recommends adding a few seeds to your water bottle during workouts. 

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I mixed mine with a little water (shown above is two servings, one for me and the Husband), and added it to our oatmeal as a topping.

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My mix contained:

 

  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup rice milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 banana
  • Toppings: strawberries and 1 tablespoon chia seeds

IMG_9444

Very neutral in taste but I loved the gel-like texture.

 

I’m trying to mentally prepare myself to run 10.0 miles (the first time I’ve done double digits since my 15-mile trail race in April, I think!).  Since I am not really feeling the distance, I broke out an iTunes gift card and downloaded a bunch of new songs:

 

  • Paper Planes by MIA
  • California Gurls by Katy Perry
  • The Blood of Cu Chulainn (the Boondock Saints theme song) by Jeff Danna
  • Love the Way You Lie by Eminem and Rihanna
  • Bulletproof by La Roux
  • If I Had You by Adam Lambert
  • Beautiful Monster by Ne-Yo
  • All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled
  • Clubbed by Death by Rob Dougan
  • O Verona from the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack

 

And then I added those songs to my Epic Movie Trailer Theme Songs playlist.  Makes for an interesting mix but now I feel motivated to get out there!

{ 64 comments }

 

  • tanyasDaily ProductViews July 31, 2010, 11:15 am

    I like that heart bowl!

    • Erin July 31, 2010, 11:50 am

      Me too! So cute! I need to invest in some more beautiful dishware… 😉

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs July 31, 2010, 11:16 am

    Good luck on the 10miles! I’ve got 12 on the cards for myself tomorrow…eek! Are you plannig on running on the Sunday of the HLS? I’ve got a 14miler that day!!
    Haha, I caved not too long ago and bought chia seeds – love them!

    • caitlin July 31, 2010, 11:18 am

      For the fun run, there’s going to be 5K and 10K groups. I prob won’t be able to run extra because I’ll have to help coordinate breakfast and such. But I know you’ll be able to find people to run with!

  • Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun July 31, 2010, 11:17 am

    Thanks for the info on chia seeds. I recently caved and bought some flax – I am going to try it in my first ever Green Monster tomorrow! Woohoo! 😛

  • meagan July 31, 2010, 11:24 am

    The Blood of Cu Chulainn is an awesome song to run to!

  • HTP Dad July 31, 2010, 11:27 am

    What’s with all you vegetarians eating pets?

    • HTP Dad July 31, 2010, 11:28 am

      oh, Never mind.

  • little miss pharmacist July 31, 2010, 11:31 am

    Bonjour !! 😉
    I saw at my local store that there was black chia seeds and white ones… Is there a difference ?
    Do they taste the same!!
    Merci beaucoup!

    • caitlin July 31, 2010, 11:35 am

      Mmm interesting! Mine were almost all black but there were some light colored ones, too. I’m not sure!

      • little miss pharmacist July 31, 2010, 5:09 pm

        I finally went to buy some white chia seeds and ask the guy about the difference with the black ones….
        white chia seeds contains more omega-3 but have a more neutral taste…so that’s about it!! I just don’t know how to use them…maybe in a overnight oat…
        I hope it will taste good….
        merci for your answer!

        • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) July 31, 2010, 11:22 pm

          They are great sprinkled in yogurt or on oatmeal (no need to mix with water), they are so good, and soft enough to chew (like sesame seeds kinda). They are great in smoothies, overnight oats, an you can make pudding with them. I use them all the time!

  • Caitlyn @ A Spoonful of Life July 31, 2010, 11:39 am

    I bought chia seeds for the 1st time a couple weeks ago & love them. I mix them in my overnight oats and by the next morning, they are fluffy and marshmellow-ey! They pack a healthy punch considering how small they are.

    Good luck on your run!! It took a lot of motivation to get my legs through a double digit run this morning.

  • Allie (Live Laugh Eat) July 31, 2010, 11:41 am

    Haha why am I not surprised by Katy P. being on your playlist 🙂

    I got a tub of chia seeds that I’ve had in my pantry for awhile. I always forget to use them. I think it’s because they aren’t very pretty looking? They always look like ants in my food!

  • Gloria July 31, 2010, 11:42 am

    Mmmm chia… You’ve gotta try cooking the oatmeal with the chia seeds (you’ll need to adjust the amount of liquid you use). It makes your oats sooo creamy! I like the way they thicken green monsters too 🙂

  • Tina July 31, 2010, 11:44 am

    I don’t think I could do Chia seeds specifically for the gel-like texture. I am a huge texture eater and something about that doesn’t sound appetizing. I wish it did though because I know they have such nutritional benefits.

  • Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) July 31, 2010, 11:45 am

    are they always black? kinda creepy looking.

  • Kaylee July 31, 2010, 11:45 am

    Does this mean you purchased ‘Love the Way You Lie’? 🙁 Not a good message for women in my opinion.

    • caitlin July 31, 2010, 11:56 am

      Good beats though. 🙂 Can’t say I choose my music based on social messaging…

  • Kendel @ Eating Abroad July 31, 2010, 11:46 am

    New music has motivational powers unknown to man. Good for you to get out there and run!

  • Tammy July 31, 2010, 11:46 am

    Check out http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com…she has a great recipie for chocolate chia seed pudding!!

  • Erin July 31, 2010, 11:48 am

    I’ve done chia seeds as an addition to a marinade for fish and it turned out great — added a nice little crunch, plus all the health benefits. I’m a flax girl, though. Love the nutty flavor with breakfast oats and cereal.

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) July 31, 2010, 11:55 am

    Good idea about new songs to motivate workouts. I get annoyed with my current ones and use it as an excuse to not go. I’m going to make a list of the ones I want to download for a refresh.

  • Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews July 31, 2010, 12:01 pm

    I love chia seeds! $10 bucks is a good deal for a big bag like that!

  • ashleigh July 31, 2010, 12:07 pm

    Good luck on the run! You can do it!! I love making new play lists to get me motivated, works like a charm!

  • Run Sarah July 31, 2010, 12:13 pm

    Good luck on the run! I need to update my playlist – thanks for the song reccomendations!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople July 31, 2010, 12:21 pm

    I loved adding chia seeds to my oatmeal, but I did not love the havoc they caused in my intestines. I just have to get over the fact that my body rejects both flax and chia seeds for some reason!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) July 31, 2010, 12:22 pm

    I haven’t tried chia seeds yet. I think I am now officially the last blogger to have not tried them! Good luck on the run! Enjoy it!

  • Ashley Solomon @ Nourishing the Soul July 31, 2010, 12:28 pm

    I’m out of the loop and don’t know much about chia seeds. Sounds great with oatmeal! Anyone have any other suggestions for how to use them?

    • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) July 31, 2010, 11:25 pm

      In overnight oats, sprinkled on oats or on yogurt – just sprinkle them on dry, they taste great! You can throw them in smoothies, or make a vegan pudding with them (chia seeds, almond milk, cocoa powder, etc.)

  • Camille July 31, 2010, 12:28 pm

    Hope you have a great run!

  • Evan Thomas July 31, 2010, 12:30 pm

    I really really like If I Had You by Adam Lambert, but the music vid freaks me out.

    • caitlin July 31, 2010, 7:29 pm

      I’m exhausted after watching it on youtube!

  • Wendy July 31, 2010, 12:37 pm

    Great music! My 5 yr old daughter and I love that La Roux song. 🙂 After I read you movie trailer post, I turned on the film scores station on Pandora, and it was awesome.

    Have a great run!

  • Wei-Wei July 31, 2010, 12:40 pm

    Good luck on your run! 10 miles… wow. You’re awesome 😉

    Wei-Wei

  • Julz @ freshman5k July 31, 2010, 12:43 pm

    I LOVE paper planes! I always do the gun hand motion while running and wonder if passerbys question it.

  • Jen July 31, 2010, 12:45 pm

    Be careful with the chia. I love them and was really big on them for a few months. I read, however, where they can be dangerous for people with low blood pressure (me). After becoming way more lightheaded than usual, I quit ’em. Not sure if it was the chia seeds.

    On the bright side, the benefits of chia seeds are tremendous for people with diabetes and high blood pressure. Check out some of the articles out there! http://www.ehow.com/about_5154942_side-effects-chia-seeds.html

    Also, NMA Matt just put out an awesome cookbook! http://www.nomeatathlete.com/pinole-and-chia-cookbook

    • caitlin July 31, 2010, 7:33 pm

      Thanks for telling me about this!!

      • jessica July 31, 2010, 11:21 pm

        Jen, do you know why they’re not good for people with low blood pressure or if there is any valid evidence to back that up? Just curious because I have low blood pressure. Thanks!

  • Kaley July 31, 2010, 12:49 pm

    I sometimes think mental preparation is MORE important than physical for me. I mean, I could do 5 miles, but do I want to? No. So I’d have to psyche myself up a lot.

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter July 31, 2010, 12:57 pm

    I ususally mix the chia seeds into my oatmeal before I heat it up since it is tasteless. I’ve never thought of putting a few in my water bottle though.

  • Holly @ couchpotatoathlete July 31, 2010, 1:12 pm

    You need good songs to keep you going for 10 miles. You have a great list!

    I put chia seeds in my smoothies or oatmeal. My husband read Born to Run and they talked about the benefits of chia — we’ve been hooked ever since!

  • Rachael July 31, 2010, 1:19 pm

    I LOVE All I Do Is Win and have not thought to add it to my running playlist. It has now been added and I can’t wait for my run on Monday! Thanks for the song suggestions!

    • nicole July 31, 2010, 3:36 pm

      Me too! I’ve heard it a couple times but wasn’t sure who sang it so thanks for helping me spice up my playlist!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape July 31, 2010, 2:03 pm

    Is it bad that I sort-of sang along to your title?? lol

    Good luck on the 10-miler 😀

  • Julie @SavvyEats July 31, 2010, 2:09 pm

    I had no idea that chia seeds helped with hydration…thanks for that tip!

  • Hillary July 31, 2010, 2:16 pm

    I don’t know about adding chiaaa seeds to my water, but I definitely want to add them to my diet somehow.

    I went for an unplanned 10-mile run today. You can do it!!

  • Jessica @ Rawtumn July 31, 2010, 2:38 pm

    LOVE chia! Your new songs remind me that I need to update my playlist as well! Music is the best motivation for long runs.

  • Cyndi @ WeightlessLife July 31, 2010, 3:09 pm

    Good luck Caitlin! You can do it! You actually downloaded a lot of the songs I was thinking on downloading. You’ll have to let us know how they are for running.

  • Claire July 31, 2010, 3:33 pm

    I motivated myself through my long training run by buying new itunes music too! If you have any money leftover, I highly recommend any songs by Chromeo. Best running music ever.

  • Kristine July 31, 2010, 3:38 pm

    I think you’ll learn to love chia. They’re so versatile. I recommend sprinkling them on toast w/ almond butter. Love the crunchiness it gives!

  • elaine! July 31, 2010, 4:00 pm

    I thought that chia pets did use the same chia seeds that people eat? Either way, I love chia. I sprinkle it dry on my cereal in the morning. Then they gel up and get stuck in my teeth… lol. Great texture for sure!

  • erica July 31, 2010, 6:31 pm

    i tried chia seeds….but for some reason i always felt weird after eating them…i think it’s because i don’t drink enough water as it is that it sucks up whatever i have?

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin July 31, 2010, 6:52 pm

    I love adding chia seeds to my oatmeal. It gives it a great texture and helps keep me fuller for longer. 😀

  • Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine July 31, 2010, 6:57 pm

    Chia seeds are pretty great! You can use 1 T chia + 3 T water (soak for 5 min) in place of an egg in certain recipes. I also mix em into oatmeal and pancakes. The benefits are so worth it!

  • Erin July 31, 2010, 8:46 pm

    I recently bought chia seeds to try too! I tried eating them dry, sprinkled on salad, and I also tried them as a pudding- see Katie’s blog http://www.yesiwantcake.com to find her recipe! 🙂

  • RhodeyGirl July 31, 2010, 9:39 pm

    DID YOU KNOW BOTH CHIA’S COME FROM THE SAME CHIA? CHIA PETS ARE MADE WITH CHIA SEEDS!

  • Chandra July 31, 2010, 11:45 pm

    Bulletproof is my fave song of the moment to get me pumped up!!
    Love your blog and your whole outlook!!

  • Morgan August 1, 2010, 11:54 am

    Paper Planes is a great running song-especially when you make finger guns during the gun sounds and “shoot” people.

  • Candy August 1, 2010, 9:35 pm

    Yesterday I came across an article on the web that says we should eat the fur on chia pets. So your first two pictures really make me smile. So far I have read mostly very positive feedback on chia. I wish you more great running sessions with this super seed.

  • Juli D. August 2, 2010, 8:58 am

    I’ve been eyeing chia seeds for awhile now and think I might make the jump. I’ve heard you have to buy ground or grind them yourself to get the health benefits though – I haven’t done research to see if that’s true or not!

    • caitlin August 2, 2010, 9:08 am

      according to my package, they do not need to be ground 🙂

  • Jen August 3, 2010, 6:23 pm

    Two new songs to check out that totally have me dancing, instead of running! ha!
    Chick Habit – April March.
    None Shall Pass – I forget who sings this.

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