Chia

Why drink O.J. with your yogurt when you can mix it in?

The liquid is really up to you. Nut milks add body and protein, but if you prefer something sweeter, try juice. Less heavy? Go with coconut water.

Energy-packed flaxseed and protein-rich chia seeds give these flapjacks a lot more staying power.

Try to get this in the fridge the night before for the best texture. If you're short on time, just top some pineapple chunks with chopped dried apricots and some pan-toasted chia seeds for a little crunch and protein.

Chia seeds form a gel when they’re soaked in liquid for awhile, making it a kind of high-protein analog to tapioca pudding. Though you’ll find tubfuls of chia pudding at your local health food store, it tastes especially good when cut with another texture like the yogurt here.

The ultimate do-ahead, portable power breakfast; it’s also great with fresh fruit.

Add this to salads, yogurt, rice dishes, and grilled vegetables.

This limeade recipe is made with a surprise superfood ingredient: chia seeds!

These hearty monster cookies have it all for nursing parents.

An agua fresca made with fermented pineapple rind, tepache is wonderful not only because of its flavor but because you are using what would otherwise be scraps.

A practically perfect brownie: dense and fudgy thanks to the chia seeds; rich, but not sickeningly so; with a salted caramel-like flavor that comes from using white miso and salt together.

You can fill this tart shell with your choice of sweet or savory fillings—from cheeses, to roast vegetables, to stone fruits.

Chia seeds look like poppy seeds, but when soaked in liquid for a while, they bloom and develop an awesome gummy texture. This limeade is made using the whole lime, which gives it a slight bitterness, but trust me: it’s so good you won’t want to make it any other way.

Gluten-free and literally packed with good things, a slice of this bread is a great way to get your daily dose of seeds and nuts.

Watermelon contains natural sugars and plenty of liquid, which make this smoothie light and refreshing. The fresh mint gives it that je ne sais quoi that you might not be able to pinpoint right away, but which makes the flavor a total standout. 

This savory granola will magically boost the flavor, protein, and crunch factor of any dish. Sprinkle it over a plate of whipped ricotta and crispy broccoli for an easy, veggie-centric meal.

Chia seeds thicken this dairy-free pudding as it sits: it's the perfect healthy, make-ahead dessert!

Chia seeds thicken this summery kefir-based white chocolate pudding, while coconut-candied pecans add a welcome bit of crunch.

A thick stack of these flourless pancakes is a dream breakfast, especially when piled high with caramelized bananas, some extra maple syrup and a big dollop of crunchy almond butter.

Free of refined sugar, these muffins are sweetened naturally with dates, and get a protein boost from both chia seeds and almond flour.

This bark recipe lands somewhere in between granola bars the snack and granola the cereal.

These cupcakes remind me of that old song lyric, "Make new friends, but keep the old." I've got my old friend cake and my new pal chia pudding. I like them both, and I thought it was time to bring them together. I personally love salted coconut frosting and could stand to make this one even saltier. Play around with the salt to suit your buds, just make sure to get it right before you let the pudding set in the fridge, as it will be hard to stir it after that.