PROTEIN/OMEGA3/EASY/ DIY CHIA JAM! + MY FAVORITE BREAD
- Allysa Empson
- Oct 27, 2017
- 3 min read
Hello again beautiful souls!
I don't know about you guys, but I love me some toast! weather it's in the morning along side a smoothie bowl, tempeh scramble, oats, or just as a quick energy snack when I don't feel like cooking. Even though it people now a' days seem to have a fear of bread or carbs in general, it can be an excellent way to up your protein intake, PLUS CARBS ARE YOUR FRIENDS GUYS! I wanted to share my favorite brand of bread with you because it really fuels me well in MY everyday life so I want YOU to know about it to!
My go to bread is, and always will be, the Ezekiel 4:9 bread by the Food For Life company ( btw, this blog is SO not sponsored) this bread not only has a complete amino acid profile, it has no added oil, is sprouted AND made from a grain mash not flour. Sprouting grains, nuts and seeds makes all of their beneficial nutrients more bio-available to our bodies and using a mash in stead of a flour means that its very minimally processed, which is always better for our health. Although I do consider this bread to be very healthy, it does contain gluten which I know MANY people cannot tolerate due to digestive issues. In that case I would just suggest to do our best to find the LEAST processed gluten free bread you can. Food For Life company does produce sprouted gluten free bread as well!
We all learned in school that amino acids are the building blocks of protein (and the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell). There is a common misconception that a plant based diet does not provide all essential amino acids but thankfully that is not the case! plants provide ALL the amino acids needed for building and maintain our muscles and tissues. Grains, legumes, veggies, nuts and fruit ALL contain amino acids in varying amounts, so eating a sufficient amount of all these foods will absolutely give you ALL the protein you need to either GET SWOLL! or just stay healthy and vibrant.
So now that you've read my whole shpeel on bread, I can talk about this wonderful berry cherry chia jam! Berries have so many health benefits as I'm sure you've heard, but just in case you haven't. Berries are FULL of antioxidants and Polyphenols which fight against cell damage in our bodies, which can help fight against cancer, aging, and disease. Chia seeds are an excellent source of the essential Omega-3 fatty acids that keeps our brain functioning at top levels, fiber that is amazing for our digestion, and also have 4.5 G of protein for per oz. Coconut sugar, although it is a processed food, is a healthier choice for a sweetener due to its low glycemic index.
Toast and Jam has always been a treat for me so I'm happy that I can still incorparate it into my diet in a health serving way!
On to the recipe!
Ingredients
1 16oz. Bag of frozen berries
1/4 C. Chia seeds
1/4 C. Coconut sugar or date sugar
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
Directions
1. Lightly warm the frozen berries in a pan on medium heat
2. Add coconut sugar and lemon juice
3. Heat till berries are soft and sugar is dissolved (This should take around 3 min, do not let mixture come to a boil)
4. Remove mixture from heat and place in food processor, blender or Nutri-bullet ( pulse just until berries are broken up.
5. Pour mixture into a bowl, add chia seeds and stir until homogeneous.
6. Place mixture in a jar to thicken (should take around 10-15 min)
7. Enjoy your own home-made Jam! YOU ROCK!
If you do try this recipe out, please tell me how you like it! I hope many berry filled days are in your future!
Love and blessings,
Allysa
Comments