Grocery shopping...craving carbs = FOOD POST

OK. So as many of you know I LOVE FOOD....but healthy food that's also delicious and nutritious! I am passionate about nourishing the body and fueling it for all the amazing things our bodies do everyday. In the past I've been like "eat to survive!" and undernourished myself (not a good thing!) then I was like "Eat! Eat! Eat! Just because you can!"(still not a good thing!) and now I'm like "Eat to fuel the body and eat to fuel the mind" basically meaning 1. Eat because, well you have to in order to survive and feel strong and energized! and 2. Eating should be enjoyable, fun and delicious.

I could give you all my boring pointers on food like when and how to pair complex carbs with lean proteins, my take on dairy and milk, protein shakes/supplements and all that jazz but you're not all one of my PT clients--if you really want my two cents I'd gladly give it to you, just not here ;) haha! SO instead I will post some of my "Creatively Clean Eats" which I have created a board for on Pinterest.

SO since I just ate a version of my Chia Seed Pudding with a scoop of plain Greek yogurt topped with KIND granola I will start with the basis of Chia Pudding. Plus the health benefits of Chia seeds are amazing!!! http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7928/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds.html

Looks totally gross, tastes totally good! This is Chia Pudding with organic powered chocolate pb

4TB Chia seeds + almond milk refrigerated over night + 1 TB organic powered chocolate pb

Just add a few scoops of Chia seeds (my Chia seeds come with a scooper otherwise do about 4 TB which I read is the recommended daily serving for maximum benefits of Chia seeds) in some unsweetened vanilla almond milk or coconut/almond milk- whatever you prefer. Obviously anything with coconut will taste like coconut verse the vanilla or plain which is a little more bland. As long as it's UNSWEETENED your all good! I usually don't measure the almond milk I just add it in so it completely covers the seeds with some more liquid than seeds....say maybe 1/2 cup?? I usually make a bunch of pudding at once and use it throughout the week because it doesn't go bad quickly! Then I scoop it out and mix it with some plain Greek yogurt and spice it up- it's like eating a dessert!

Chia seeds absorb liquid very easily due to the amount of fibers in them and are very bland so they take on whatever flavor your adding in. You'll want to refrigerate your Chia seeds in the almond milk in a Tupperware over night or at least a few hours. When you're ready to eat it, mix it up real good to distribute the liquid and puffed up seeds evenly and add more almond/coconut milk if needed. This is your plain Chia Pudding! Now you can get creative!!!!

Chia pudding additives:

 Half a banana and some chopped walnuts

Just Great Stuff organic powered peanut butter (1 TB)

Organic regular peanut or almond butter

1 scoop protein powder (whatever flavor you like)

Mashed up raspberries, strawberries or blueberries

Shredded coconut flakes (unsweetened)

KIND granola

Plain Greek yogurt
Honey
Cocoa powder
Pure extracts like coffee, almond, vanilla, mint
ANY OTHER IDEAS PLEASE COMMENT :)