You know the saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it"?
Well, I eat this pudding every day and have been for probably the last 5 or 6 months. No, this is not an exaggeration. I love it and I have yet to get tired of eating this every day - so, why stop now?
I normally eat this in the afternoon, before I workout. Sometimes I eat it for breakfast, sometimes as dessert. That's the beauty of this simple protein packed pudding - you can eat it day or night! This is also totally customizable, which is probably why I haven't gotten bored of this.
You can use ANY flavor protein powder and top the pudding with whatever your heart desires: berries, bananas, nut butter, shredded coconut, whipped cream, chocolate chips...really, anything you want!
This pudding requires just THREE ingredients: chia seeds, plant-based protein powder and non-dairy milk (you could actually use water in a pinch)! I must stress using a plant-based protein, as this won't have that "pudding" texture using whey protein. Instead, you'll end up with a liquefied protein syrup which is far less than appetizing (trust me, I know from experience). If you haven't tried a non-whey protein powder I highly recommend testing the waters of plant-based protein with this recipe! I personally like eating this protein as a pudding over having it as a shake, hence why I've eaten this every day for the past 6 months. Chia seeds become gelatinous when they absorb liquid, which is what gives this pudding its 'pudding-like' texture, in combination with the protein powder.
Another benefit of this pudding is that it is great source of fiber! Chia seeds are packed with fiber and there is a bit with the protein, rounding out this recipe with 5 total grams of fiber. This truly is the ultimate guilt-free treat.
Chia Seed Protein Pudding
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Set time: 12 hours (Overnight is ideal, at least 3 hours for chia seeds to become gel-like)
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup protein powder, plant-based (such as pea and rice protein, I recommend True Nutrition) NOTE: this will not work with whey protein as it won't set up and hold like a pudding!
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk, such as almond, coconut or cashew milk
Optional Toppings:
- Fruit
- Nut butters
- Whipped cream
- Toasted coconut
Directions:
1. This couldn't be any simpler: in a bowl mix together protein powder, chia seeds and milk. You want this to be liquid-y, not totally thick like a pudding at this point. Cover and allow to sit overnight (or at least 3 hours) to allow for chia seeds to gel. Mix after the pudding has set and serve with desired toppings.
Nutrition (1 serving, does not account for additional toppings):
185 calories - 27 g Protein, 5.5 g Carbohydrates, 6 g Fat