may 30 2014151 intro early one morning recently i was out running with a friend and the subject of food came up it never takes long with me i mentioned tossing chia seeds into a smoothie is chia really all that great he asked what do you do with it my answers were yes and lots chia seeds are trendy for good reason theyre loaded with fiber omega3s protein calcium and other minerals plus they absorb up to 12 times their weight in water so they can help keep you hydrated no wonder theyre all over the grocery store in granola crackers chips drinks and energy bars 31 superfood secrets for a long and healthy life im a believer i try to get at least a tablespoon or two of whole chia seeds into my diet every day i find that i have more energy as well as more stamina while running who doesnt want that heres how i like to eat them quicklist 1category how to use chia seedstitle sprinkle away urltext chia seeds bring nice crunch to yogurt oatmeal and salad dressing but beware once they sit in liquid for a while they form little gelatinous balls some people like me dont care for that texture i eat up right away 20 foods that boost health and happiness quicklist 2category how to use chia seedstitle mix em in urltext i put a spoonful of whole seeds into pancake and muffin batters my homemade granola and the breading mix for ovenfried fish and vegetables with their neutral flavor the seeds work in almost anything quicklist 3category how to use chia seedstitle drink up urltext in parts of mexico they sip chia fresca shake up water chia seeds a bit of sugar and lemon or lime juice and let stand youll like this if youre into bubble tea or tapioca best snacks for weight loss quicklist 4category how to use chia seedstitle hit the bar urltext chiapacked 100calorie health warrior energy bars 2 each at whole foods are good fuel and dont weigh me down during runs my favorite flavor is acai berry quicklist 4category how to use chia seedstitle jam out urltext ive been experimenting with adding chia to my refrigerator jams the jams are really easy to make and last about a week covered and chilled chias binding power means you wont need pectinjust a bit of sweetener how much depends on the fruit for blueberry jam for example i add a few tablespoons of maple syrup or honey and 14 cup chia seeds to a few cups of berries and cook stirring over mediumlow heat until it thickens so delicious and healthy this article originally appeared on healthcom