Chia seeds are a popular superfood that can be incorporated into any diet plan.
The seeds come from the Salvia Hispanica plant, which is native to Mexico and Guatemala, but in the past few years, they’ve become popular and widely used all over the world.
The reason they’re considered a superfood and the reason they’re so popular is that there are so many health benefits of chia seeds: they’re packed with nutrients – fiber, protein, healthy fats including omega-3 fatty acids, and various other micronutrients, and they’re rich in antioxidants.
They also have lots of other health benefits – they improve your energy levels, help control your blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of various diseases, etc.
Plus, they’re very low in calories, which makes them great for weight loss.
That’s why in this post, I’m sharing a roundup of super easy chia seed recipes for weight loss.
As we covered above, people eat chia seeds for weight loss and for so many other health benefits, so this is definitely an ingredient you’ll want to have in your household and add to your healthy food grocery list!
11 Chia Seed Recipes For Weight Loss
Blueberry Banana Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds
419 calories
Ingredients
2 Tbsp Chia seeds – 120 calories
½ Banana – 52.5 calories
½ cup Blueberries, fresh – 35 calories
½ cup Oatmeal, dry oats (uncooked) – 150 calories
½ cup Milk, 2% (cups) – 61 calories
Instructions
Combine oats, milk, and chia seeds
Let sit in container with lid (like a Ball jar) overnight
Top with blueberries and banana
Cottage Cheese with Chia Seeds, 1/4 Cup Nuts & Berries
472 calories
Ingredients
½ cup Cottage cheese, 2% – 90 calories
¼ cup Walnuts – 192 calories
1 cup Blueberries, fresh – 70 calories
2 Tbsp Chia seeds – 120 calories
Instructions
Mix ingredients together to make a bowl
Chia Seeds with Coconut Milk and Almond Butter
470 calories
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Chia seeds – 60 calories
1 Tbsp Shelled hemp hearts – 60 calories
3 oz Coconut milk, reduced fat (oz) – 105 calories
1 Tbsp Almond butter – 101 calories
1 tsp Stevia – 0 calories
⅛ cup Pecans (cups) – 94 calories
1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories
Instructions
Combine coconut milk, hemp hearts, and chia seeds in a container (e.g. mason jar) and soak in fridge overnight.
In the morning, add almond butter, stevia, pecans, and strawberries (halved or quartered).
Chia Seeds and Yogurt
343 calories
Ingredients
1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories
1 Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2%, Greek, single-serving container – 150 calories
2 Tbsp Chia seeds – 120 calories
¼ cup Milk, skim, non-fat – 22.5 calories
Instructions
Combine chia seeds, yogurt, and milk in a mason jar & refrigerate overnight.
Add strawberries (halved or quartered) in the morning.
Chia Energy Bars
These chia energy bars are the easiest energy-packed snack you can make. What makes them so great is that they’re so customizable. You can make any flavor combos you could think of, and fit them to everyone’s liking. They can also be made vegan, if that’s what you’re looking for. You can find the recipe here: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/chia-energy-bars-recipe
Superfood Vinaigrette
This delicious vinaigrette is the perfect addition to any salad you’re making. The reason it’s so good is that it’s not just super flavorful and delicious – it also contains so many great ingredients that are amazing for your health – from apple cider vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil to the star of this blog post aka chia seeds, this salad dressing has it all.
Next time you’re making a salad, top it with this vinaigrette: https://www.tasteloveandnourish.com/superfood-vinaigrette/
Chia, Quinoa, and Avocado Salad
Here’s another fun way to incorporate chia seeds into your salads: toast them and mix them in! Yop, chia seeds are also good toasted! While most people use them with some liquid so chia seeds can get their famous puddling-like texture, they’re absolutely great toasted as well.
This nutrient-packed salad recipe uses not only fresh veggies and chia seeds, but also quinoa – another popular superfood.
Find the recipe here: https://
www.abelandcole.co.uk/recipes/chia-quinoa-avocado-salad
Chia-Crusted Chicken
Another unique and delicious way to utilize chia seeds in non-breakfast food is to coat your chicken in them! Chia seeds help you get a healthier and more nutritious version of crispy breaded chicken. Once you try it, you’ll definitely want to add the recipe to your weight loss meal plan. So get the recipe here: https://www.self.com/recipe/chia-crusted-chicken
Flax and Chia Seed Crackers
If you love snacking on crackers, you’ll LOVE these flax and chia seed ones. They’re not only delicious ad easy to make, but they’re much better for you than the regular store-bought ones you’re used to eating.
As both flax and chia seeds have tons of healthy benefits and are full of nutrients, these crackers make the perfect healthy snack for whenever you feel like munching on something crispy.
Plus, they’re keto, vegan, paleo, and gluten-free, so this snack can be enjoyed by so many people.
They take time to bake (about 90 minutes), but the actual preparation is so simple and quick, so the oven is doing most of the work for you.
Find the recipe here: https://mayihavethatrecipe.com/flax-chia-seed-crackers-vegan-gluten-free/
Chia Seed Strawberry Smoothie
Smoothies are the perfect breakfast or snack food, because they’re insanely easy to make, healthy, full of great and nutritious ingredients, and they’re extremely versatile (as you can tailor every ingredient to your liking and also to your diet preferences).
So, it’s not a surprise I had to include a chia smoothie recipe in this post, as chia seeds are the perfect addition to an already great drink.
Find the recipe here: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/creamy-strawberry-chia-smoothie/
Chia Seed Falafel
Yup, you read that right – chia seeds can also be used when making falafel! With all of the nutritious value they bring, they make the perfect addition to the delicious Middle Eastern dish. This is such a fun and unique way to add them to your meals, and if you’re a fan of falafel, you’ll definitely be a fan of this recipe.
While falafel is usually fried, this recipe calls for baking the falafel in an oven, which is a great way to make the dish healthier.
The recipe is also super easy and quick to make – it will only take you about 10 minutes to prepare everything, and 30 minutes in total for the dish to be ready.
Check it out here: https://eatsmarter.com/recipes/chia-falafel
Chia Seeds Benefits For Weight Loss
They’re high in fiber:
Chia seeds are LOADED with fiber, which helps you feel full for longer. That helps you from overeating later on in the day. Plus, it helps promote regular bowel movements, which is also good for weight loss.
They’re low in calories:
On top of being packed with nutrients, chia seeds are low in calories, which makes them an ideal food for weight loss. Two tablespoons of chia seeds contain only 138 calories, which makes them a healthy and nutritious addition to any meal.
They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids:
They’re one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation, improve brain function, and support healthy blood sugar levels.
They’re super easy to use:
Chia seeds are incredibly versatile and easy to use in recipes. As you can see in all of the recipes above, there are lots of different easy recipes to make with chia seeds, from a simple chia pudding recipe (which is one of the simplest dishes you can make) to salads and more. Making weight loss simple is one of the best ways to stick to your journey and reach your goals.
They’re great for meal prep:
The reason why I love chia seeds so much is that they make the best meal prep food. Chia seed pudding is one of my favorite breakfast recipes, and I love that I can just mix up the ingredients the night before and have a delicious breakfast when I wake up! That way, you won’t have to grab an unhealthy breakfast on the go because you were too busy to make one at home – you’ll have a breakfast ready to eat (or ready to take with you, as it’s something that’s easily eaten on the go).
They boost your energy levels:
Since they’re packed with nutrients, they help boost your energy levels throughout the day, which can help you exercise and be active, and we all know that’s important for weight loss.
Chia seeds control your blood sugar levels:
As they’re full of fiber, chia seeds can help prevent spikes in your blood sugar and reduce the risk of insulin resistance, which is a condition linked to weight gain.
They’re high in protein:
As chia seeds are also high in protein, they help build muscle mass and promote weight loss.
They promote hydration:
Chia seeds can absorb up to 12 times their weight in water! That makes them great for weight loss because they reduce hunger and promote hydration which is important not just for weight loss, but for your overall health and well-being.