Yesterday, i graduated from mk raw and vegan culinary school in venice.

Our final presentation was to develop and market our own individual product – we had to create our own recipe, design a logo, and plan packaging for our creation.

I decided to make chia puddings. I made them in three different flavors, all inspired by the colors, scents, and flavors of autumn.

The packaging is minimalistic and classic to me, a chia pudding captures what is inspiring about an early morning, when the world is bathed in new light, and everyone else is still asleep.

This is when I will sit with my macbook perched on my knees, warm water with lemon in my hand, and a chia pudding over-sprinkled with other super foods like goji, hemp and bee pollen by my side. But that isn’t all a chia pudding offers.

Chia pudding is packed with nutrition – making it live up to it’s superfood name. Packaged in the way i have created, it is the perfect meal on the run. When i’m running late for my flight, jumping into a taxi to race to airport and barely getting to the gate before it closes (aka my norwegian life), with a chia pudding in my bag, i’ll have the best snack on board!

\\ chia benefits omega 3

· reduces inflamation | strengthens skin cells complete protein · amino acids that are great for healthy skin, hair and nailscalcium · bone buildingzinc · blemish free skin | healing the skin | immune systemfiber · digestion | detoxantioxidants · protects against free radicals so the cells in our body don't get damagedvitamins · most of the vitamins must be supplied in the diet

// so, what is chia seeds?

Chia seeds looks a lot like poppy seeds. They can be black, white or grey, and are very, very tiny. Although they are related to the mint and sage family, the taste is neutral, with notes of nuts and/or poppy seeds. Chia seeds can also be stored for a long time without spoiling, because of their high content of antioxidants

// the story

The chia seed goes long back, to the time of the aztec and the mayan diet, many hundred years ago. It is said that it was the basic survival ration of the aztec warriors, as they could go for hours with just the energy and nutrition from the chia seed. They also used it medicinally to relieve joint pain, which makes sense because of the chia seeds high omega - 3 content.

Chia is also a old mayan word for `strength`

// lets talk numbers

The recommended daily intake of chia seeds is 2 tbsp (recommended by the chia producers). This is about 15 grams of chia seeds. If you are into nutritional numbers, that gives you 2.4 grams of proteins, 6 grams of fiber and 2.7 grams omega-3 (ALA) the recommended daily intake of proteins is 1 gram per/kg, fiber is 25-35 gram per/day and 1-2 gram omega 3 per/day (norwegian rec.). This means you are getting your omega- 3 (ALA) covered, and on a good way with your fibers, too! You get a small amount of proteins – and this is the protein you want. Provides all of the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source! And unlike flax seeds, chia don’t need to be ground to make all of these nutrients available to your body

// bringing it together

Chia seeds can hold 10-12 times their own weight in water. If you add liquid to your chia seed, it will absorb it, and create a gel consistency. That means they are great for making puddings and jams, thickening soups and smoothies, and even as and egg replacement. You can of course also use them in their dry form, simply sprinkling them over your breakfast porridge, smoothie bowl and salads for the perfect finishing touch

I had never tasted pumpkin before. So i wanted to give the big orange thing a chance! I think the flavor turned out very good on my pumpkin spice chiapudding, and would like to share it with you since it is halloween and pumpkin season ·

// Recipe · pumpkin chiapudding | coconut cream ·

- 106 gram almond cream (the almond cream is made with 1 cup soaked almonds and 2 cups water | its just a little less water than when you make a almond milk)

- 105 gram pumpkin pure (blend pumpkin with 1 tbsp sweetener by choice, i used 1 tbsp maple)

- 1 tbsp carrot juice (make carrot juice in a juice machine, if you don't have that, leave it out and add more agave)

- 1 tbsp agave (more if you don't use carrot juice)

- 2 tbsp chia seeds

- 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice- pinch nutmeg- pinch clove- pinch himalayan sea salt- pinch cinnamon

How you do it:

In a blender mix all the ingredients, except from the chia seeds. When blended, pulse in the chia seeds, put it in a mason jar or a bowl and set in the refrigerator, for at least 30 min, or overnight.

You will have a perfect chia breakfast waiting for you in the morning <3

· vanilla coconut cream · - 1 young coconut (you can also use organic canned coconut, and then only the hard part on top)

- 2 tbsp agave

- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 tsp coconut oil

How you do it:

Mix it all in a blender, except the coconut oil, when smooth, add inn the coconut oil.

· Finish off with sprinkling hemp seeds, for the extra protein boost ·

-Enjoy-

Ekstróm CHIA | min eksamenoppgave!