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    Home Recipes Breakfast Recipes

    Easy Blue Chia Pudding

    Published: Jul 14, 2022 by Kristi Ruth RD · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Blue chia pudding is an easy and delicious snack that's high in protein and fiber, which will help kids feel full longer. And it gets its incredible blue color without using any artificial food dyes!

    Two small round white bowls with blue chia pudding topped with hemp hearts and fresh blueberries. Three additional blueberries scattered around the surface.

    I wanted to make this recipe as easy as possible, which is why the vanilla and blueberries are listed as optional ingredients. Still, if your kids are new to chia pudding, I highly recommend including both when you first make this because it will help win them over at first bite 😉

    Are you noticing a trend? Fruit just makes just about everything taste better. Take my chocolate chia seed pudding for example. It's pretty good as is but topping it with fresh raspberries makes it taste incredible!

    And if you are looking for more 'fix it and forget it' no cook meal prep breakfast recipes (I mean, who isn't?!), check out my Mango Overnight Oats and Incredible Flaxseed Pudding recipes!

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe is so Great
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Dietitian Tip
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More High Fiber Snack Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Easy Blue Chia Pudding

    Why This Recipe is so Great

    • 4 ingredients
    • Easy recipe
    • High in fiber (5 grams per 2 ounce serving)
    • High in protein (5 grams per 2 ounce serving)
    • Quick breakfast or snack for kids on the go

    Ingredient Notes

    Four ingredients in individual glass dishes labeled: chia seeds, maple syrup, blue spirulina, and milk.
    • Chia seeds High in omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber. They are also a complete protein, providing all of the essential amino acids. Chia seeds are also a good source of minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds (polyphenols and tocopherols) which have an antioxidant affect.
    • Milk Good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. According to Harvard, chia seeds are the richest plant source of omega 3s
    • Blue spirulina Gives this chia pudding a blue color that makes it fun for kids.
    • Maple syrup Use pure maple syrup.
    • Blueberries (optional) Contain phytochemicals, including anthocyanins along with a variety of other nutrients. They also add color and flavor to this recipe.

    Dietitian Tip

    Many quick breakfast and snack options served to kids are low in fiber and protein, which is one reason kids seem to feel hungry so often. It is also one reason that some kids have a hard time staying 'regular'.

    In fact, a low intake of dietary fiber has been associated with chronic constipation in kids. Serving high fiber breakfasts and snacks like this chia pudding will help increase fiber intake.

    I should also add that adequate hydration is also key to maintaining bowel regularity, especially as fiber intake increases.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Two side-by-side images. The one on the left is a view from the top looking down into a mason jar with all of the dry ingredients for blue chia pudidng. The image to the right shows all ingredients mixed together before blueberries are added.
    1. Add all dry ingredients to a 12-ounce glass jar or container and stir well.
    2. Add milk and vanilla (if using). Whisk well (or put the lid on and shake vigorously).
    3. Let sit for about two minutes (milk will likely separate). Whisk or shake again. If whisking, use the backside of a fork or spoon to break up any small clumps of chia and/or blue spirulina.
    4. Let sit in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight before serving.
    5. Stir in one to two tablespoons of cold milk just before serving. This will help give it a smooth consistency.
    1
    One package of Bob's Red Mill Chia Seeds. Image taken from amazon.com.
    My Chia Seeds Pick
    The chia seeds I use to make chia pudding at home.
    Check out this recipe

    Expert Tips

    • Do not refrigerate while the milk is separated from the chia seeds. See the image to the right in the 'Step-by-Step Instructions' section above for what it should look like before refrigerating.
    • This makes a thick pudding. To thin and smooth it out, stir in one to two tablespoons of cold milk just before serving. This will give it a better consistency than if you were to add additional milk before it sits.
    • Use either black or white chia seeds.
    • Honey can be used in place of maple syrup.
    • Blue spirulina is added for color only. This recipe will still taste great without it, it just won't have the same blue color.
    • A little goes a long way with blue spirulina. For a stronger blue color, add more blue spirulina in one-quarter teaspoon increments.
    • Milk alternatives can be used in place of regular milk. Using a milk alternative may alter the taste and texture of this recipe.
    • Adding toppings, like blueberries and hemp hearts as pictured, may help increase the acceptance of this for kids because fruit is more familiar to them.
    • I do not recommend putting the ingredients in a blender for a smoother consistency, as some other recipe developers have suggested. I did this and the consistency was gritty, more like sand (unpleasant). Additionally, the black color of the chia seeds took over and created a dusky greyish blue color that was not appealing.

    Recipe FAQs

    What does chia pudding taste like?

    The best way I've heard chia pudding described is that it tastes like tapioca pudding, mostly because of the texture.

    Although this recipe is made with blue spirulina, you can't taste it. It's made with just enough maple syrup to sweeten it up. Vanilla and/or more maple syrup can be added to increase the level of sweetness.

    How long do you soak chia seeds for pudding?

    The minimum soaking time that is generally recommended for chia pudding is 20 minutes. However, I suggest waiting about 2 hours to give the chia seeds more time to soak up even more liquid.

    Chia pudding can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.

    Can I use flaxseed instead of chia seeds?

    You definitely can but you will need to add an additional tablespoon of flaxseed because flaxseeds don't absorb as much water as chia seeds. For a specific recipe on how to make flaxseed pudding, check out my flaxseed pudding recipe.

    More High Fiber Snack Recipes

    • One serving of flaxseed pudding topped with banana slices, granola, and mini chocolate chips in the center, part of a second serving is showing in the bottom right corner, and mini chocolate chips and granola pieces are scattered around the surface.
      Incredible Flaxseed Pudding
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    • Granola in a small glass bowl.
      Easy Homemade Crunchy Granola Recipe
    • Top view of one white bowl filled with bliss balls. A few bliss balls are to the right of the bowl.
      Best Bliss Balls (3 Ways!)

    Did your kids love this blue chia pudding? Please leave a 5-star rating below or a review in the comments section!

    Don't forget to snap a pic of their blue chia pudding and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!

    📖 Recipe

    Blue chia pudding topped with hemp hearts and fresh blueberries in a small white round bowl.

    Easy Blue Chia Pudding

    Kristi
    Blue chia pudding is an easy and delicious snack that's high in protein and fiber, which will help kids feel full longer. And it gets its incredible blue color without using any artificial food dyes!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 7 minutes mins
    Total Time 7 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 109 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 tablespoon chia seeds
    • 1 cup milk I use skim or 2% milk
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup Pure maple syrup
    • ¼ teaspoon Blue Spirulina
    • vanilla Optional. Use ¼ - ½ teaspoon to enhance the flavor.
    • blueberries As a topping. Optional.

    Just before serving

    • 1-2 tablespoon milk

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients except the milk to a 12 or 16-ounce jar or bowl. Stir well.
    • Pour milk in with the rest of the ingredients. Whisk well with a fork. Let sit for about two minutes. It will separate.
    • Whisk mixture together again with a fork. Use the tip of a fork or spoon to scrape off any blue spirulina or clumps of chia seeds that are stuck to the sides of the jar or bowl.
    • Cover with an airtight lid and store refrigerated for at least two hours before serving. Store refrigerated for up to five days.
    • Stir in one to two tablespoons of cold milk (per recipe) before serving to help smooth out the chia pudding.

    Notes

    Blue chia pudding can be served 'as is', with toppings, or mixed in with yogurt.
    Topping ideas: fresh fruit, granola, hemp hearts, coconut flakes.
    Do not refrigerate while the milk is separated from the chia seeds. See the image to the right in the 'Step-by-Step Instructions' section above for what it should look like before refrigerating.
    Adding more blue spirulina (up to one-half of a teaspoon) will give this chia pudding a darker blue color.
    Use either black or white chia seeds.
    Honey can be used in place of maple syrup.
    Blue spirulina is added for color only. This recipe will still taste great without it, it just won't have the same blue color.
    A little goes a long way with blue spirulina. For a stronger blue color, add more blue spirulina in one-quarter teaspoon increments.
    Milk alternatives can be used in place of regular milk. Using a milk alternative may alter the taste and texture of this recipe.
    Adding toppings, like hemp hearts and blueberries (as pictured), may help increase the acceptance of this for kids because fruit is more familiar to them.
    I do not recommend putting the ingredients in a blender for a smoother consistency, as some other recipe developers have suggested. I did this and the consistency was gritty, more like sand (unpleasant). Additionally, the black color of the chia seeds took over and created a dusky greyish blue color that was not appealing.
    Please rate the recipe five stars if you love this blue chia pudding!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 31mgPotassium: 183mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 142IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Kristi Ruth RD wearing a green top with jeans and holding a white platter with tri-colored carrots.

    Welcome to Carrots & Cookies! I'm a busy working mom of three and can now say that I've been a dietitian for 20 years!! I'm on a mission to show you that eating well doesn't have to be complicated by providing you with easy recipes and practical nutrition tips! More about me...

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