Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

This Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding is kicked up a notch with chocolate because who doesn't love strawberries and chocolate together. Make this for meal prep and enjoy it for breakfast all week. Or mix it up and make your own version using this basic chia seed pudding recipe.

Strawberry Chia Pudding is a great breakfast option for any following a low carb, gluten-free, or clean eating diet. It can take the place of oatmeal in the morning and is packed with healthy fats, fiber, and nutrient from the chia seeds. I make all kinds of chia seed pudding, usually involving whatever milk, yogurt, and fruit I have on hand. With that said, this is one of my favorites. I love the combination of chocolate and strawberries and find it really keeps me full all morning. It's also a great post workout pick me up.

It's also a great breakfast option when it is hot out. I don't know about you but when its hot in the morning, the last thing I want to do is turn on the stove or eat something that is also hot. While smoothies and overnight oats are good options, chia seed pudding may be my favorite. This could be because it tastes like dessert but it is also because I find it the most refreshing. The little bursts of cool chia seeds and fresh fruit are exactly what I want to be eating when it is warm out.

Variations of Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

• Paleo Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding with coconut milk: For a Paleo option, you will want to replace the milk and yogurt and canned coconut milk. Make sure to choose one that is Paleo compliant and has no added sugar. Additionally, choose a Paleo-friendly honey to sweeten the pudding instead of Stevia. You can also use a mashed banana.
• Frozen strawberry chia pudding: This pudding is actually delicious frozen. Usually, I make it into popsicles by adding a little extra almond milk and freezing it. 
• Overnight Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding: For meal prep, pop this in the fridge the night before so it is ready first thing in the morning. You can also add some oats to the mix for a chia and oat combination, just make sure to add some extra milk as well so the oats have enough liquid to soften.
• Strawberry chia yogurt: If you want more of a yogurt dish, replace all the milk with yogurt. This will give you a much creamier pudding that is flecked with chia seeds throughout. You can also add chia seeds to yogurt right before eating it. They just won't have time to gel and expand.
• Almond Strawberry Chia Pudding: Lots of people like to add almond to this recipe. To pack in tons of almond flavor, use almond milk, almost extract, and add some chopped almonds on top.
• Strawberry Chia Smoothie: To turn this into a smoothie, add some extra milk and throw everything into the blender. I like to add a banana as well.

How to Meal Prep Chia Seed Pudding?

If you want to use this recipe for meal prep, make the pudding without the strawberries. Store it in an airtight container and it will keep in the fridge for up to five days. Then add the fresh strawberries right before serving. This keeps the strawberries from getting mushy. If possible, store each serving in its own container so you have a portable breakfast on the go.

Adding Protein to Chia Pudding

One complaint I sometimes hear about chia pudding is that it doesn't have enough protein. There are lots of ways to kick up the protein that are relatively easy. The most common is to add protein powder. In this recipe, you could replace the cocoa powder with a chocolate protein powder. You can also add nut butter to pack in some additional protein. This can be incorporated right into the pudding or served on top. Finally, you can make sure to use a protein-packed milk. There are many protein fortified plant-based milk on the market today that have between 8-13 grams of protein per serving.