At the end of last year, I decided to make a few lifestyle changes. I started training regularly (shout out to HIIT classes!), incorporated more activity throughout my day, and became stricter with my sleep schedule (still working on this one!) And the changes started to come! I’m more focused, happier, and fitter than I’ve been in a while.
A major part of this lifestyle change has been changing the way eat. I have a weakness for sour and gummy candies – Sour Patch Kids, Lemonheads, sour straws, you name it. In fact, the last guy I dated took me to a candy shop for our first date and let me GO HAM because I loved candy that much!
So dilemma: what does a girl eat eat when she is 1) a serial candy nosher 2) who wants to nourish her body and take care of herself 3) but can’t get rid of her sweet tooth?
The answer is you don’t. I still eat my candy, but I’ve found alternatives to incorporate in my diet. This Sweet Berry Chia Seed Pudding uses all natural sweetness to knock out those cravings! I usually prep it the night before (#studentlife) so that in the morning, I just need to toss in some fresh fruit and drizzle a bit of honey and I’m good to go. An added bonus is that it’s packed with fiber – 20 grams! – which makes it the perfect post-workout snack!
Sweet Berry Chia Seed Pudding
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of plain, full-fat Greek yogurt (10 g of protein): I prefer plain yogurt because it doesn’t contain added sugar. Opt for “full-fat” because “non-fat” has extra chemicals (read: sweeteners) that replace the fat. Also, full-fat yogurt keeps you fuller for longer!
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/3 cup of chia seeds (10 g of protein)
- Berries of choice: I like frozen blueberries and fresh strawberries, sliced into coins. Pro-tip: If you use fresh strawberries, don’t cut and use them until right before you eat. This helps preserve their antioxidants!
- Honey
- Salt
- Optional add-ins: hemp seeds (I love using these for added protein!), nuts, goji berries
- Note: If you do use these additional ingredients, add a bit more almond milk to your mixture.
Steps:
- Mix the yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds, and any other add-ins in a container with a lid. Stir until the yogurt and seeds are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Add the frozen fruit on top of the mixture (they will thaw out while your mixture chills).
- Keep your mixture in the fridge for 4-6 hours but preferably overnight.
- Before enjoying, drizzle a bit of honey and sprinkle some salt.
It’s berry easy to make and serve! Your sweet tooth – and summer bod – will thank you!
— Amanda Cordero
