Chia Seeds

For the vegan pantry:

Chia gel

Chia Seeds

Benefits:  Chia seeds are a great source of Omega 3's, similar to flax seeds, however Chia seeds contain much higher amounts of antioxidants than flax seeds, so they can be stored for long periods of time without becoming rancid.  Chia seeds are high in both protein and fiber, and unlike flax seeds, they are easy to digest and don't need to be ground or mashed to release their nutritional benefits.

Uses:  You can add Chia seeds to just about anything...soup, yogurt, protein shakes, breakfast cereal, salad dressing, etc.  Use Chia seed gel as a firming agent for dishes in place of eggs.  We use it in our lentil loaf, a recipe we will adding to this blog shortly.  Judd makes a Chia gel using water or apple juice, stores it in the refrigerator to add to his morning oatmeal.