Perfect Bar Unwrapped: Chia

In Perfect Bar Unwrapped, we’re sharing exactly what goes into our bars that makes ‘em so darn good for you. That’s why each month we’ll be highlighting one of the 20 powerful superfoods included in the Keith family’s age-old recipe, complete with all of its uses, benefits, and a recipe of your own to try. Because, when we find something amazing, we’re all about sharing the wealth with the people we love.

Meet This Month’s Superfood

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!! Remember that stuck-in-your-head jingle from the old infomercial about a pet plant? Well, guys, we’re bringing chia back, but in a much better way—a tasty, edible, and health-packed way.

Chia seeds are related to mint (another one of our faves) and were prized by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans. Today, they’ve become pantry staples as a functional health food that packs a nutrient-dense punch in very small doses. Up until 2014, they were only grown south of the border, but they’re now harvested by companies stateside, making them even easier to get and incorporate into your healthy lifestyle. We’re all for that!

The Benefits

We won’t put anything in our bars that don’t meet our standard bill of health, and chia is no exception. We’re loving what they can do for us, and the difference is palpable even in small quantities. So what makes chia so super? Well, to name a few reasons…

But how? How can one tiny seed do oh-so-much for you? Well…there’s more to these little guys than meets the eye. Small, but mighty, they’re overflowing with nutrients that allow your body to see all the happy, healthy benefits we just listed.

Ahhhh! Now we get why they say good things come in small packages.

The Recipe

We know you’ve heard it a million times before, but breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Yet, not all of us are morning people and hitting that snooze button often takes priority over making ourselves a balanced meal. That’s why we opted for simplicity when picking this chia breakfast recipe–and the best part is that it won’t take up any extra time for you in the morning. Get ready to try this cool and caffeinated overnight chia recipe.

The Recipe: Cold Brew Banana Overnight Chia
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 24 hours

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
• ¼ cup Califia Farms Mocha Cold Brew with almond milk
• 1/2 sliced banana
• 1 handful of raspberries (or any seasonal fruit of your choosing)
• ¼ cup coconut flakes
• ½ Perfect Bar (any flavor of your choosing)
• 1 Tbsp. honey (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mash banana at the bottom of the ramekin or bowl.
2. Whisk together chia seeds and the cold brew until the seeds are evenly dispersed and submerged, and the banana is mixed in.
3. Cover the bowl and set in your refrigerator overnight.
4. After sets overnight, remove from fridge, top with raspberries, coconut flakes, Perfect Bar flavor of your choice, and enjoy.
5. Drizzle with honey (optional).

Chia later, alligator!