Wake up to this ready-to-eat breakfast of rich chocolate chia pudding topped with sweet-tart strawberries!  Moms need a quick and satisfying breakfast to start the day and this Chocolate Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding doesn’t disappoint! 

Mornings can be one of the busiest times for families- when everything has to work like clockwork for everyone to arrive at their respective places with shoes on, teeth brushed and on time.  Having breakfast already made and waiting in the fridge crosses one thing off the to-do list for an extra moment to breathe and smile at your favorite people eating breakfast right in front of you.  

This Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding has a rich chocolate flavor and it is perfectly sweet- not too much, not too little.  Shake up all the ingredients in a mason jar before you go to bed and in the morning add sliced berries and fun toppings like chopped nuts, cacao nibs or a sprinkle of granola.

Chia seeds might be tiny but they have a lot of nutrition packaged up in them.  A 1-ounce serving (2 tablespoons) contains 6g protein, 10g fiber, 2mg iron, and is also an excellent source of manganese & phosphorus and a good source of calcium.  Chia seeds have a magical property in that they are hydrophilic, which means they cling to water molecules.  They can supposedly hold up to 12 times their weight in liquid when soaked!  And that is how this Chocolate Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding is formed- the chia seeds cling to the milk molecules, creating a creamy pudding-like texture.

Most Americans average 16 grams dietary fiber daily, not reaching the 25-38grams recommended per day.  Chia seeds are an excellent way to give your diet a fiber boost!  Fiber helps improve gut health, manage blood glucose, improve cardiovascular health and provides a feeling of fullness.

Here are a few ideas to customize this Chocolate Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding and make it work for you:

• Leave out the maple syrup and choose your preferred liquid or granular sweetener.
• Top with chopped nuts, shredded coconut, cacao nibs or granola to boost nutrition & calories.
• Use a plant-based milk to keep this recipe dairy-free.  But do note that nutritional value will differ.
• Swap out strawberries for raspberries, blueberries or even banana!

Minimize the morning rush and still enjoy a satisfying breakfast with this sweet and creamy Chocolate Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding.  Now, the only decision you have to make is…What toppings will you try first?

Looking for some additional make-ahead breakfasts?  Here are a few ideas to add to your meal plan:

• Creamy Mocha Overnight Oats (high protein)
• High Protein Chocolate Banana Breakfast Quinoa