Eating Taboo foods - Raw Chia Oatmeal

So many poeple have asked me, "uhhh... what are you eating?!"
Probably because it looks like I am eating a pile of frog eggs or something equally as strange. I have to admit, yes, it looks gross. But I have never been one to decline something that looks strange or has some taboo behind it. Lime roasted crickets are yummy, dark chocolate grasshoppers are even better, meal worms are.... meal-ey, not a fan of grilled spiders (actually I think it was just the sauce they had on them), uni (aka sea urchin) is absolutely decadent, durian is strangely delicious but only if it is super cold at almost a soft-serve consistancy... I just don't understand how Andrew Zimmern can't eat it! You get the point. This recipe, I believe, would qualify as "raw." Coming from Lake/Mendocino County there were many raw foodies, vegans, vegetarians, as well as the cow-folk who raised their own animals to eat and sell. Generally, people who do eat meat, have this sort of phobia when it comes to the words 'organic' or 'all natural' and even more so to 'vegan' and 'vegetarian.'
Well below I present to you, raw - vegan - organic - good for you - Chia Oatmeal

I have been making this for a month or two now and rather than scooping each ingredient individually into bowls I mixed together a whole tupperware container full. In this container I have:

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  1/2 cup chia seeds
  
  
  
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  1 cup rolled oats
  
  
  
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  1/3 cup toasted pecans
  
  
  
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  1/3 cup shreded coconut (unsweetened)
  
  
  
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  1/4 cup flax meal
  
  
  
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  1/4 cup golden rasins
  
  
  
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  1/4 cup dried blueberries
  
  
  
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  1/4 cup hemp seeds
  
  
  
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  1/4 cup cocao nibs
  
  
  
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  1 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon
  

I have a reason for each ingredient in here. Chia seeds are very hydrating, filling and packed with omegas, calcium, potassium and other good stuff. Nuts are high in good fats, protein, and.... taste good. Same goes for the coconut. Flax meal (ground flax seeds) is high in fiber, omega 3's, and phytochemicals. The dried fruits have lots of fiber and "good" sugars as well as iron. Hemp seeds are another one of those omega packed foods with lots of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese EFA's and amino acids that we all need to stay healthy. Cinnamon helps to digest the sugars that I love to eat.



I like to use about 1/3 cup of this dry mixture with about 1/4 cup coconut milk (full fat!) and maybe a cup of vanilla almond milk with a splash of maple syrup because I like things sweet.



I really don't measure. I just pour whatever I can into my bowl, let it sit in the fridge overnight and if it is too thick in the morning I add a little more almond milk to thin things out.



In the morning it is like a thick pudding almost. Sometimes I eat it cold, or if I want something hot I will put it in the microwave for a minute and eat it hot. Usually I just take it out and let it come to room temprature and eat it when I get to work. I really enjoy it, strange as it looks. It keeps me full, alert and I think because of the omega overload it keeps me happy all day! :)

What are some of the things you love to eat that people always want to comment on? I will usually get lots of gag sounds, turned up noses and whatnot. Whatever! I don't like what most of those people eat either so we're even! ha!

If you don't have a store that carries these ingredients you can find them online, and usually much cheaper at that. I have many of the ingredients I use daily in my "aStore" (see Amazon Store tab above) which have free shipping for most items through Amazon.com. For other natural goodies, check out iHerb.com and use ZAL862 for $5 off your order.