outerlimit 's dagbok, 05 nov 23

This is awesome! It’s close to mine, though I don’t have all this variety. I’m thinking of adding pumpkin seeds. How many calories is this combination? 

611 calories, with 200 calories from hemp hearts. I find that I need 550 or 600 cal breakfast and 30g min of protein with each meal. If I run out of hemp hearts, I substitute 2 hard boiled eggs, which also saves 50 calories. 

Thanks, outerlimit! It’s good to see a different strategy for putting more protein into a breakfast like that. I actually didn’t know that hemp hearts were high protein.  

Great! 

Oatmeal is a great way to start the day. I don't often have the patience to make steel cut, but old fashioned oats are a staple. Agnes, I've found that pretty much all the seeds -- hemp, chia, pumpkin, sunflower -- have a better protein to calorie ratio than tree nuts like walnuts or pecans. Hemp and chia are also fantastic sources of ALA Omega 3 fats, and chia is an absolute fiber bomb. Pumpkin seed is one of the best vegetarian sources of zinc. So just a ton of benefits all around.  

I am relatively certain that my skin has improved from eating chia seeds. I am 48, so it isn't perfect of course, I do not all of a sudden have the skin of an 18-year old. But the chia seems to give the skin's texture a boost. I also eat almonds (12 almonds daily) and avocado (1/2 an avocado every other day)... just my 2 cents!  

Writingwyo and Unity, can you say more about how you prepare and use the chia seeds? I just got a small bag of them but don’t have any recipes yet. Have never used them before. Do I soak them overnight before adding them to my breakfast, or can I eat them the same morning? I don’t use much liquid in my breakfast since I eat my grains, nuts and fruit with Greek yogurt (not milk). Or maybe I should grind them up like flaxseed? 

I'm considering buying chia seeds and processing them into a powder. I've read they are hard and get stuck in your teeth. 

Read up on chia. Do not eat them dry. Use your GOOGLE skills to learn about chia and how to use it. 

Kenna -- you don't want to down a ton of them dry, but I would think a tablespoon in yogurt should be fine. I have heard of people getting blockages from eating them dry, but I suspect quantity might have had something to do with it. You also wouldn't want to down a spoonful without anything else with them. Still, I'll concur it's probably better to soak or grind them. Even with yogurt, I usually let them sit a few minutes to soak up at least a little moisture. Agnes -- I love chia pudding, My ratios are 1/2 cup milk (I use soy, use whatever you want), 2 tablespoons chia, 1 tablespoon cocoa and 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup, but we like our chocolate bitter, so a normal human might want to go a full tablespoon of syrup. I also like to mix 1/3 cup oatmeal, 2/3 cup milk, and 1 tablespoon each flax meal and chia and let it soak on the counter 15 or so minutes until it thickens up. I usually add some hemp or pumpkin seeds for added protein and healthy fats and then toss in some fresh berries or other fruit. I don't usually sweeten it, but you could. If you eat flax seeds, those absolutely must be ground. I buy pre-ground 

Agnes, I put one tablespoon of chia seeds in the water I use to make oatmeal. 💙 I don't eat them in any other way, but I eat them every day.  

Thanks, writingwyo! Delicious ideas for chia! Will definitely let it soak some milk before I eat it. Love the idea of cocoa and maple syrup with it. 

Thanks, unity and Kenna! I will be trying and yes, googling, both chia and hemp hearts. I love FS to learn more about how others incorporate foods like these seeds into their eating plans.