By now you know that although we are registered dietitians and personal trainers who base our diets on fresh, unprocessed healthy foods, we are suckers for chocolate. 🙂 Yep, in fact, we’re so wild for chocolate, that it wouldn’t surprise us if you told us that you heard us arguing over the last chocolate covered pretzel…or a Hershey’s kiss…or a hot chocolate (we don’t discriminate and would even enjoy one in the summer) for that matter! 🙂 So we’re always whipping up new yummy, waistline-friendly– and healthy– chocolate recipes! Have you tried our Guac-Chocolate Mousse or our Chocolate Drizzled Granola Balls or our Chocolate Coconut Chia Balls, just to name a few.
We whipped up this pudding with breakfast in mind. For that reason, our goal was to create a satisfying recipe with just a hint of chocolate so it wouldn’t be so overly sweet that it would set your taste buds off craving more of the super sweet flavor all day. You know, when something is just so sweet and good, you just want more and more vs. when it’s simply just good and satisfying, when you’re done, you’re done. The latter is true for this pudding–with just a hint of chocolate, in this satisfying creamy pudding texture, it puts the kibosh on your sweet taste buds and your body will be fueled with fiber and protein without the highs and crashes from sugary foods.
One of the best strategies we use with our weight loss clients to ensure weight loss success is to substitute high-calorie, low-nutrient foods with foods that are rich in protein and fiber. This protein/fiber combo helps to keep you feeling satisfied so you don’t overeat due to hunger. It also helps to keep blood sugar levels stable so you don’t experience energy/ sugar crashes that send you running for simple carbohydrates and sugar for a quick pick-me-up. Our clients who start using this strategy can’t believe how much easier it becomes to prevent overeating.
And guess what? We’ve got you covered with the satiating protein/fiber combo in this Chocolate Almond Breakfast Pudding. We use chia seeds which are a great example of a food that’s rich in both fiber and protein– in only one ounce they contain 11 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. (If you’ve never used them before, other than trying them in our pudding, try sprinkling a teaspoon of chia seeds in your smoothies, on top of oatmeal, or mixed into a muffin batter for an added fiber boost that will keep you feeling full for hours.) As an added bonus, chia seeds are high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium and are a good plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Chocolate Almond Breakfast Pudding
This Chocolate Almond Breakfast Pudding combines the satiating combo of protein and fiber (thanks to chia seeds) and a hint of our love (chocolate!) to create a healthy, satisfying breakfast. We suggest having it with some fruit and eggs for a fab, super satiating meal!
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (plain or vanilla)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 T honey
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- Dark chocolate shavings, optional
Directions:
Combine almond milk and chia seeds in a small bowl. Let sit for an hour (or more) so that the seeds can rehydrate. Add this mixture and all other ingredients (except chocolate shavings) in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour into small glasses and refrigerate until chilled. Top with chocolate shavings, enjoy!
Nutrition Facts: 124 Calories, 6 g Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 64 mg Sodium, 18 g Carbohydrate, 7 g Fiber, 9 g Sugar, 4 g Protein
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk (plain or vanilla)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 T honey
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- Dark chocolate shavings, optional
- Combine almond milk and chia seeds in a small bowl. Let sit for an hour (or more) so that the seeds can rehydrate. Add this mixture and all other ingredients (except chocolate shavings) in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour into small glasses and refrigerate until chilled. Top with chocolate shavings, enjoy!