One of the first things I’ve decided to integrate into my “new and improved” diet are seeds. I’ve always kept sunflower seeds and sunflower seed butter around the house, but I was never that keen on any other kind. Sure, chia seeds have become super popular thanks to all of the smoothie bowls you see parading around Instagram, but I just never really thought about eating them. I was getting plenty of omegas from eating eggs and fish oil supplements, so I skipped over the chia and all of her seedy sisters.
Well, now things have changed, and I’ve decided to give seeds a little bit of front and center action. I knew they would be beneficial to my health, but it took a little reminding and a bit of extra research to realize that these simple little specks from Mother Nature actually carry pretty huge health benefits. The seeds I’ve incorporated into my diet as of now are chia, pumpkin, and flax. There are more that I’ll experiment with, but for now, these seeds are a pretty perfect trio.
If you’re wondering why I chose to boost my diet with seeds, I’m more than happy to explain. I’m not working with plentiful financial resources yet (a girl has drive though, ya know!) so I wanted to be able to start adding in rich sources of nutrition that wouldn’t break the bank. Seeds are generally inexpensive, especially if you can shop in stores like Trader Joe’s. You can also find them online for decent prices with a quick bit of comparison shopping on Amazon. With just a few dollars spent, I would be adding a bounty of polyunsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals to my meals.
Since these seeds are virtually tasteless, I have found that I can add them to anything and everything like yogurt, vegetable dishes, salads, soups, and more. I can even turn my “not so healthy” treats into slightly healthier versions by sprinkling seeds on my lasagna, pizza, and even taco meat! If smoothies are your thing, you can add ground or chopped seeds to those as well. The options are limitless….and so are the benefits. Now, without further ado, let me introduce you to my three favorite seeds!
Pumpkin seeds. I always loved scraping the seeds out of pumpkins as a kid. My aunt would roast them and I would get to take bags of them home to snack on. I just had no idea how good they actually were for me. Until now! Although I have to say that after I finish the seeds that I roast after Halloween, I prefer to buy raw ones for a higher dose of the good stuff they have. Raw pumpkin seeds are chock full of Vitamin B (folate), Vitamin E, iron, magnesium, calcium, and zinc. They even contain 5g of protein per serving and a ton of phenolic antioxidants! Studies have shown that a diet rich in pumpkin seeds can help decrease the chances of developing diabetes and prostate issues, as well as have antimicrobial and anti carcinogenic properties. Worth a handful a day in my opinion!
Chia seeds. These tiny little things are a part of my daily breakfast now. It’s ridiculously easy to make chia pudding with organic coconut milk or coconut cream. I just eyeball how much of each to put in, mix it in a mason jar and throw it in the fridge. The next morning I have a healthy, and quick meal. Perfect for anyone who is always in a rush…ahem…moms! Chia seeds are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, iron, antioxidants, and calcium, as well as provide almost 6 grams of protein per ounce. Not bad for such a diminutive food!
Flaxseeds. I have to admit that I grew up eating this as my parents were both pretty ahead of their time when it came to nutrition. My mom would add them to my oatmeal, and to be honest, I wasn’t a fan. Fast forward to adulthood and I found myself adding ground flaxseeds to my kids’ foods when they were little. Fast forward a bit more and now I eat them again. Full circle! Flaxseeds pack some serious nutritional punch. These little guys are full of Omega 3’s, lignans, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, and many other minerals. Research has shown that a diet rich in Omega 3’s can ward off heart disease, and that lignans can help lower the risk of cancer. Seeing as flaxseeds have 800 times more lignans than any other plant foods, these seeds are worthy of all of our pantries.
So, in a nutshell...seedshell?…..this is why I’ve decided to add this powerful little trio to my daily meals. Inexpensive and dense in nutrition. Easy to use, and even kid friendly. I love getting seedy. I think you will too!
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