Healthy Banana Chocolate Chia Pudding – Ideal Filling Breakfast Idea!

Banana Chocolate chia pudding is a quick, easy, and incredibly healthy alternative for breakfast or a snack, containing an abundance of nourishing nutrients such as fiber, essential omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and plant-based protein! It’s not only very easy to make—you can mix it in as little as five minutes and let it thicken in the refrigerator—but it’s also quite customizable—you can add whatever fruit flavor you like and customize it any way you choose.

Chia seed pudding is the best option if you need a quick pick-me-up and craving something sweet and chocolatey, but tend to feel guilty eating the actual chocolate xD – guess what! You can make this chocolatey chia seed pudding using raw cacao power with less percentage of sugar, and still get even more benefits! Raw or minimally processed cacao products are richer in antioxidants and have less or no added sugar compared to highly processed versions!

It is a nutritious, simple, protein-rich snack or breakfast that is created with the ideal proportion of chia seeds, water, or milk, and a natural, non-toxic sweetener!

If you ask me, it is unquestionably one of my favorite snacks or a nutritious delightful addition to breakfast you can make the night before and indulge in its scrumptious, flavorful taste! A super helpful piece of advice is to make this banana chocolate chia seeds either the night before, and have it already made for breakfast right in your hands, or prepare it right when you wake up. Let’s be honest, until you do your whole demanding morning routine, stretch a little, and check e-mails, 1 hour unnoticingly already passes, right?

Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Recipe?

• It is super quick and easy to make – The banana chocolate chia pudding can be surprisingly made within a maximum of 5 minutes, and then it’s headed to the fridge to thicken to perfection for at least 1 hour (in my experience, they’re already perfect after 2 hours in the fridge!)

• Small, but highly nutritious – They are very nutritious despite their small size. Chia seeds include a wealth of vitamins, protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids.

• Delicious way to add chia seeds into your diet – Considering the highly nutritious benefits, vitamins, and minerals of chia seeds, and the easiness of their preparation, it makes them the perfect go-to everyday snack to include more of this superfood!

• Can be eaten as a breakfast, snack, or any part of the day – When you have a basic chia pudding recipe, the options are basically infinite. Keep it healthy for an on-the-go snack with grated dark chocolate as a topping, a quick morning pick-me-up of fresh strawberries, and a nutritious banana with the addition of almonds or hazelnuts. Basically, you are free to add what you prefer!

• Dairy and refined sugar-free – This banana chocolate chia pudding version is made without any refined sugar or any other toxic sweeteners, and none of the highly processed dairy milk is used if you don’t prefer using only water! But, believe me, the difference is almost unnoticeable!

• Can be prepared the night before – Chia seeds can easily be soaked within an hour, but the perfect thickness forms after 2+ hours, but for the best results, many recommend soaking them for 8-12 hours for the best results, and creamy-like texture.

What Are Some Benefits Of Chia Seeds?

• Full of Antioxidants – Chia seeds are superabundant. These substances not only contribute to human health but also assist in safeguarding the delicate lipids in the seed.

• Bone health – Chia seeds include nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium, all of which are beneficial to bone health.

• Constipation – Chia seeds are advantageous for digestive health because they include a combination of soluble and insoluble fiber, which makes them a fantastic option for alleviating constipation. (source)

Ingredients You Need

Chia seeds – Make sure to use fresh chia seeds so they can absorb the liquid and plump up. Overnight pudding may be made with either black or white chia seeds.

Banana– adding bananas to this strawberry chia pudding is totally optional, and up to your preference! More fruits are always better! Bananas always provide a spark to any meal and evoke that freshness and natural sweetness when we become weary of basic, monotonous, and classic foods. They also provide essential nutrients that may improve blood pressure control, heart health, and mood. Bananas are reliable sources of vitamin C in addition to fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, and a variety of other healthful ingredients  (3)

Honey – Honey may naturally sweeten and flavor the pudding, eliminating the need for extra sugars or artificial sweeteners. Add as much as you personally prefer, but if you ask me, 2 to 3 teaspoons are surely ideal, and enough to evoke the sweetness excluded from refined sugar options.

Cacao powder – Remember that while using organic cacao powder may taste bitter, it is a better choice because of its increased nutritional value. If you decide to go with the sweetened version, cocoa powder will also work nicely and add that apparently omitted additional sweetness.

Dates – Dates are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and a number of vitamins and minerals. Since they are dried fruit, they do have a lot of calories. Also, dates’ sweet flavor, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants make them a healthier alternative to white sugar in recipes. (1)

How To Make

• In a blender, add 1 banana, and 2-3 medium pitted dates,  add 1/2 cup (120 mL) water or plant-based milk, and 1 to 2 tsp of honey – adjust to taste. Mix it all.
• Place the mixture in a jar or another smaller bowl or a mug where you plan to keep your chia pudding and add to that mixture 2 to 3 tablespoons of chia seeds. Stir everything well.  I also love adding little pieces of chopped bananas to it. Believe me, they are a fabulous addition to the already blended one!
• Cover the jar and store it in the fridge overnight or for at least 1 hour.
• Add your preferred chopped fruit on top when you’re ready to eat it, then enjoy cold!

Alternatives And Tips

Experiment with different plant-based milks – In case you prefer using milk instead of water, you can experiment with tastes with different plant-based milks. When not using water, I adore switching it for unsweetened oat milk. Dairy milk will also work, as well as other plant-based kinds of milk like hazelnut, almond, or coconut (great for added creaminess).

Try adding chopped fruits – since blending a banana with other ingredients in this recipe, additionally, you can add little chopped banana pieces afterward in the mixture to break the monotony. Also, other soft chopped fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries may also fit well.