chia seeds Archives - Simply Happenstance

Apple Pie Breakfast Bowl

October 21, 2015

Apple Pie Breakfast Bowl //

Hello, friends… we hope you’re all enjoying the fall season! Nicole and I have been staying busy with our little ones. We love having spare time to share our favorite recipes here on Simply! We also are super fortunate to be contributors over at the fabulous, Simple As That Blog! We recently shared an irresistible recipe for an APPLE PIE BREAKFAST BOWL. This dish is a new favorite… and we hope it becomes one of yours, too!

The base of this bowl is a rich, creamy vanilla chia seed pudding. Greek yogurt, almond milk, pure maple syrup, a touch of vanilla, and loads of healthy chia seeds create the thick, slightly-sweet mixture. Sliced crisp apples, crunchy granola, dried cranberries, a dash of cinnamon, and a sprinkling of brown sugar top the pudding, making it the tastiest fall breakfast that your whole family will love! Take a peek over at Simple As That to get the recipe details! Enjoy, friends! {xo}

Find our berry version of this breakfast dish ==> HERE!

Protein Packed Energy Bites

April 28, 2015

Protein Packed Energy Bites //

There are few things I enjoy more than whipping up something delicious for my four little ones. I love knowing the ingredients that go into the foods that nourish their bodies. I also love the sweet smiles on their cute little faces when they bite into homemade treats!

This recipe is a simple one that the kids can even help with. With only a handful of healthful ingredients — this snack can be made in minutes. Their little hands are perfect for rolling the (no-bake) mixture into bite-sized balls.

I must admit, once you take your first bite, you may feel a little guilty! It’s sort of like eating a ball of cookie dough… only this time, you don’t have to sneak it!

Oatmeal, flaxseed, chia seeds, natural peanut butter, unsweetened coconut, raw honey, and chocolate chips make up the ingredients. The kids will have no idea that you are really filling up their bellies with protein-packed energy food!

These energy bites are great served as part of breakfast, packed in school lunches, eaten as an afternoon snack, prepared for upcoming road trips, for a fun day hiking, or an outing to the beach. (In fact, these little goodies will be accompanying my little girl on her field trip today!)

There are so many ways that you can customize these energy balls to make them your own! Try adding nuts, pretzels pieces, dried fruit, white chocolate, peanut butter chips, and/or endless other ingredients! (Just make sure to add enough nut butter and honey to bind it all together.) Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Protein Packed Energy Bites

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Healthy Snack

Servings: 20 -25

Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

1 cup dry oatmeal
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup raw honey
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1/2 hour.
Once chilled, roll into balls (I used a 1" cookie scoop to make mine bite-sized for the kids). If the mixture isn't forming/staying in a ball, simply add a bit more honey to bind it all together.
Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Enjoy!

Notes

Recipe adapted from: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/

Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds

April 21, 2015

:: Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds ::

Mondays come around far too quick for me, so breakfast at the beginning of the week has to be something that picks me up with a ton of energy and taste. This Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds is just that. Packed with protein and the right amount of sweetness, this smoothie makes me rethink my mornings!

I think I have the notorious cause of the Mondays. How do you get over that? Yoga, mantras for having a better Monday? No matter how hard I plan and prepare for the week ahead… something gets lost in the mix. Since I can’t help that (the kiddos not being responsible for their own stuff is part of it), I can take control of making myself a healthy breakfast to start the week off right!

I drink smoothies daily. I am constantly changing the ingredients and swapping them out to create new smoothies. This Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds is actually one of my favorite staple smoothies. It gives me the energy boost that I need in the morning, while it’s peanut butter taste makes me forget that it’s a smoothie. I like to think it’s a peanut butter shake (which makes me very happy to pretend, especially if it looks to be a long week ahead). I made this Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds yesterday, and I am proud to say one thing started off right this week {wink}!

Print Recipe

Peanut Butter Smoothie With Chia Seeds

Prep Time5

Cook Time2

Total Time7

Course: Breakfast

Servings: 1

Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon chunky peanut butter
1 scoop protein powder
1 banana
1/4 cup spinach
1 teaspoon chia seeds
ice

Instructions

In the base of the blender fill with almond milk, peanut butter, protein powder, banana, spinach, and ice.
Blend until smooth.
Top with a sprinkling of chia seeds.

For other smoothie ideas check out these smoothie recipes:

Avocado Mango Smoothie

Blueberry Pear Smoothie

Banana Almond Chia Smoothie

Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

Breakfast Power Bowl

March 31, 2015

Gluten-Free // Breakfast Power Bowl

Breakfast… it’s hands-down, my favorite meal of the day. I honestly wake up each morning, excited for my cup of coffee and ready to eat! I typically start my day with a healthy protein shake or smoothie. However, if I have a little more time, or if it’s the weekend, I get a bit more creative. Thank goodness for those days! They’re truly my favorite!

This satisfying dish is one you can whip up the night before. (Sure… that takes a little more planning, but some days just call for a special morning treat!) If you are already having quinoa for dinner… make a little extra! When the kids go off to bed, add some chia seeds and almond milk to it, give it a stir, and place it in the refrigerator until morning. Simple, right?

[Read more…]

Blueberry Pear Smoothie

January 8, 2015

Blueberry Pear Smoothie //

It’s so funny with the New Year, one instantly feels the need to refresh, tweak a few things around, and try a little harder… for instance with healthier eating. Am I right? I know for me… even without compiling a bunch of resolutions, I ALWAYS have the urge to clean up my act in the eating department, come January! I think I’ve seriously tried it all, you guys. I’ve done an elimination diet, become completely vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free… I’ve even done two back-to-back rounds of the Whole30! Yikes! Sort of crazy…. I know!

Well, this year is really no different. I started off thinking I may attempt 100 days of Real Food with a dear friend of mine, but I’ve already thrown in the towel. Before you feel sorry for my lack of commitment, please know that I don’t plan on eating ding dongs all day {do they still make those?}. Instead, I am just going to do my best. That.Is.All. After all, I think I know what to do at this point… and I’m sort of over following guidelines.

So, with that being said… I picked up this lovely Juice/Smoothie recipe book from Barnes & Noble over the holidays. {It was in the bargain section, which made me like it even more!} It’s a really pretty book… I highly recommend it for the pictures and for recipe inspiration!

[Read more…]

Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

September 4, 2014

:: Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding ::

So… I’m on a healthy recipe kick this week on the blog! Could you tell? I made this Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding for the first time last week, and absolutely LOVED it! I’ve made a few chia pudding recipes in the past, but none were successful until this recipe. I have a few tips for you that should make it thicken nicely and come out with a pudding-like consistency. I think this would be lovely as a healthier dessert, but honestly… I’ll be eating it for breakfast! There are no refined sugars in this lovely dish – just a little pure maple syrup to sweeten things up!

I actually plan on making this pudding again tonight, in preparation for my son Ryan’s 10th Birthday on Friday! Since the poor guy has to go to school, I thought he could at least start his day on a tasty note! {Little does he know that we are also surprising him with a fun family getaway for the weekend, as well!}

[Read more…]