I must admit, I have been slow to hop on the chia pudding bandwagon, but now I am on….for good!   I really didn’t feel like I was missing out because I add chia to every green drink I make and walking past all of those chia seeds settled in the bottom of Kombucha bottles everytime I walked into the grocery didn’t make me want to embrace them as the starring role in a recipe, so I was content where I was with chia.  How limiting of me!  Then one day, my trainer who is a super serious cyclist, and I were talking about what foods would be ideal to eat before a really long ride….ninety miles or more for him…..something that will help protect against dehydration, provide long lasting energy and digest quickly without distraction.  Besides fresh fruit, chia was the first thing that came to mind.  When I think of chia, my first thought is how they were used by the Mayan and Aztec warriors for energy and endurance when they went to battle and how the Tarahumara barefoot runners in Mexico used chia to sustain their typical 50-100 mile runs.  A true superfood!  The proof is there……in history.  
After that conversation, I could not get chia pudding out of my head. I really felt like it was a great option to pre-hydrate and energize for long training rides.  Everything in it is pure and straight from nature so digesting it shouldn’t interfere with exertion.  But, I would do a test run, just to make sure!  If all is well on that front, this pudding tastes like just another sinful treat but it is anything but that.  The chia provides a rich source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, minerals and plant based omega-3’s.  The dates contain twenty-three different amino acids, significant amounts of iron and many other minerals and vitamins.  Cashews boost the mood and nourish the brain and skin.  And, the coconut manna, which is simply pureed coconut is dizzying in it’s health promoting properties from it’s vast amount of antioxidants and medium-chain fatty acids.  After some research, a little testing and adding a little of this and a little of that and a lot of tasting, I discovered something new to my palate that was cool, creamy, delicious and healthy.  If you are someone who can stomach only fruit before a grueling spin class, road race or any other serious training, try this cashew chia pudding after as a post-recovery treat to refuel and help to rehydrate.  And, for those just wanting a taste of pure bliss without any guilt feelings……..this is for you too!  xxo!