PB & J Chia Pudding | High Protein

Oh baby, I feel like I almost need to reintroduce myself, it’s been THAT long since I’ve posted a recipe. And boy, oh boy, have I missed it! (In fact, I have a long list of recipes I’ve been wanting to create, but I just have not had the time.)

In case you want to what I’ve been up to in the last year, I’m giving you an update in a true Dear Diary fashion. And if that does not sound interesting to you (no offense taken, promise), you can jump right to the PB & J Chia Pudding recipe below!

So where have I been?

Well, the boring answer is school. I am in my final year of my degree to become a Dietitian, and it has really taken up most of my time. I don’t remember myself having so much school work when I was in University fresh out of high school. (Although there’s a very good chance I was just skimming the readings for my English lit classes.)

It feels like every moment in my day is accounted for: school, freelance recipe development and photography, assistant stylist jobs, and yes, more school. I’m also in the process of applying to grad programs, which seems wild to me. The last year was so busy that I actually really struggled with stress and burnout. Which prompted me to create both a podcast episode and a masterclass on the topic.

You can check both of those out here:

Podcast: Understanding Cortisol & Burnout (if you’re not really sure how stress can impact your health, this episode breaks it down!) Ps. If you’ve never listened to my podcast Queer Wellness Unpacked, you can find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! We chat about all things diet culture,hormones, sexual and reproductive health!

Masterclass: Beat The Burnout (evidence-based tips that I used myself to help recover from stress and burnout!)

But you know what? I’m almost there, and it has been a really amazing experience! I feel like this has always been my calling, and watching it come together has been so wonderful and hard and worth it. A good reminder that it is never too late to pursue something you are passionate about.

So with all that said, let’s get into this PB & J Chia Pudding recipe, shall we?

How To Make PB & J Chia Pudding

If you haven’t made chia pudding with Greek yogurt, let me tell you, it’s a game changer! It becomes so creamy, and as a yogurt-lover, it feels like I’ve leveled up my morning bowl of yogurt and berries!

To make it, simply milk together the Greek yogurt, milk (I used dairy, you can use whatever floats your boat!), chia seeds, and maple syrup. Set in the fridge overnight. You can also make this first thing in the morning, but it usually needs 1-2 hours to set.

For the compote, bring frozen strawberries, chia seeds, and maple syrup to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes. If you don’t have time to make a compote, you can also use fresh strawberries or store-bought jam. You can also use my favourite hack and just microwave the frozen berries with a little maple syrup!

To assemble the chia pudding, portion the pudding into bowls and dollop with peanut butter and strawberry compote! If using regular peanut butter, melting it first can help it stir in more easily (although I didn’t do that here and it was totally fine).

Consume within 4 days!

Nutritional Highlights

This recipe is packed with protein thanks to the Greek yogurt, milk chia seeds, and peanut butter. Protein is going to help keep you fuller longer and really help to stabilize your blood sugar (ie. keep your energy levels more even throughout the day).

I also love that chia seeds offer up so much fibre: 2 tbsp of chia seeds (the amount per serving in this recipe) has almost 10g of fibre! For reference, women need 25g of fibre per day!

Ingredients

Greek Yogurt

Milk

Chia Seeds

Maple Syrup

Peanut Butter

Frozen Strawberries