New foods!

So I've tried some new foods in the last few days--hemp hearts and chia seeds. Both are incredibly good for me, and very tasty! I've been working on cutting out processed foods, as well as really reducing my sugar and salt intake. Not an easy task for a foodie!

The hemp hearts are great to sprinkle on salads, cereal and yogurt. They are full of the Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats that are so good for our hearts, plus 10 g of protein in a serving. So I mixed some into plain Greek yogurt and added some raspberries, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla. Wow, I feel satisfied, and rather proud of myself!

The second new food is the chia seeds, and yes, I used to make Chia Pets when I was a kid. Same seeds, but this time, I'm eating them! I made the yummiest pudding, since when you mix the chia seeds with a liquid, they plump up and gel to make the pudding. I used a simple online recipe, then sliced a banana on top with a few raspberries as well. Even my husband thought it was delicious, and, hold on, he requested that I make it AGAIN!! In just 1 tablespoon, these little guys pack a punch--5 g of fiber, 3 g of protein, and 2.5 g of Omega-3 fats.

Each new food experiment took only a few minutes to mix together, and the health benefits are so worth it. I'm trying to make every calorie count, and not get stuck again eating empty calories that have no health benefits to my body. There is a noticeable difference after eating so carefully this week. I am full, but only to the point of being satisfied. And I'm excited to try using these hemp hearts and chia seeds in other ways that my family and I will enjoy together!