Chia pudding: A superfood snack on the rise

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Coronavirus has spurred a wakeup call to the world that we need to put our health first. Now, more than ever, we need to put nutrients into our bodies that will strengthen our immune systems. How to do that: eat your superfoods! It may come as a surprise to some that chia seeds are even considered a superfood. My prediction is that more people will be looking for unique ways to incorporate chia seeds into their diets. Chia seeds are found in a variety of popular high-end snacks, including crackers, jams, granola bars. However, my favorite way to eat this superfood is obvious—chia pudding!

If you had asked me in 2010 what chia seeds were, I would have just described them as the seeds that went in terra cotta planters (AKA Chia Pets) to mimic hair or fur growing from a figurine. I will always remember the Chia Pet jingle, “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!,” which played all the time during commercial breaks back in the 90s. At the time, it never would have occurred to me that the seeds used in Chia Pets could also be consumed as a superfood, but here I am preaching about their health benefits and rise in popularity. My, how times have changed!

The proof is in the pudding—data supports “chia pudding” is gaining popularity

Out of curiosity, I looked up the terms “Chia Pet” and “Chia pudding” in Google trends to see if my assumption that people were currently thinking of chia seeds more in terms of the pudding than Chia Pets was correct. Below is what I pulled up (spoiler alert: Chia pets are still going strong).

I thought it was interesting how every December there is a spike in searches for “Chia Pets” (assuming they’re being given as holiday gifts), and every January “Chia pudding” sees an uptick in popularity. I guess this comes as no surprise, since chia seeds are known to have many health benefits, and the beginning of any new year is when New Year’s resolutions kick in. 

Although the total number of searches for “Chia pets” throughout the year outweighs searches for “Chia pudding,” you can tell that the rate of increase for chia pudding is growing faster than chia pets. If “Chia pudding” continues to increase in search results at the same rate as the past ten years, then I think it will be just a couple more years before “Chia pudding” surpasses “Chia pets” in overall popularity.

Not only am I projecting the chia seed market will increase, but industry reports are also claiming the chia market will reach more than 2 billion USD in sales by 2022, compared to 66.5 million in 2018!

Contributing factors behind the surge in popularity

Because there is a steady increase in “Chia seed pudding” year over year, this tells me that people are becoming more informed about the health benefits of the seed. Did you know chia seeds are the richest plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids? Omega 3s benefit cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol, regulating heart rhythms and blood pressure, preventing blood clots, and decreasing inflammation.

If you are trying to lose weight (which who isn’t?), chia seeds will help you curb your appetite, since they contain a lot of fiber. Two tablespoons of chia seeds (1 ounce or 28 grams) contain about 140 calories, 4 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber, 7 grams of unsaturated fat, 18% RDA for calcium, and trace minerals including zinc and copper.

Since chia pudding is an energizing breakfast item or afternoon snack, it’s perfect to have when you’re traveling as a little pick-me-up. I put together a map of restaurants and juice bars throughout the United States that offer chia pudding because I wanted to see what flavors of chia pudding are available across the country, and I know I’ll likely want to get some whenever I’m on the road. 

Getting creative with making chia pudding

I’ve gotta say, after looking through the chia pudding offerings at the locations above, I’m a little let down by the variety of chia pudding flavors that cafes/juice bars are currently offering. Most places prepare the item the same way—with vanilla almond or coconut milk as a base and fruit on top. That’s about it (for the most part). 

I noticed that food bloggers are pushing the envelope with their chia pudding favors more than we’re seeing restaurants/juice bars doing at the moment. 

Here are a few examples of unique chia pudding creations, demonstrating that you can go fruity or savory with them:  

• Berry Cherry Protein Chia Pudding by Easy Cooking with Molly
• Beet Strawberry Chia Pudding by Emilie Eats
• Strawberries and Cream Chia Pudding by Liz Moody
• Blue Majik Chia Seed Pudding by Sister Chives
• Pumpkin Spice Latte Chia Pudding by Choosing Chia
• Saffron Rosewater Chia Pudding with Warm Apple Compote by Nutriholist
• Matcha Green Tea Chia Pudding by Fearless Dining
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding by A Saucy Kitchen

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When I was attempting to make my own chia seed pudding recipe, I wanted to also experiment with a unique flavor. After a little trial and error, I mastered what I like to call the “Pineapple Carrot Zinger.”

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What to get out of your cooking comfort zone?
Jump to my list of 20 things you can do to step up your cooking game in 2020!

Below are Amazon links for chia seeds and small containers to make this in. (Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)