Hydrating Chocolate Chia Pudding

During the winter many people underestimate how much they are actually sweating when they work out. We feel generally colder and less thirsty and so we drink less water. But in actuality we are sweating just as much and sometimes even more with all those layers on. So it’s important to make sure we are staying hydrated in order to replenish electrolights and avoid cramping, despite the colder weather. With that in mind I came up with this super-hydrating chia pudding that’s loaded with nutrients. I combined Harmless Harvest Coconut water with banana to give you a nice dose of your daily potassium.

When choosing coconut water make sure you are getting one with no additives – look for one that is not pasteurized and has no added sugar. Harmless Harvest products match all these criteria and their products taste amazing too! Instead of using traditional nut milk to make this pudding I went for their coconut water. And even better they came out with a 32oz bottle which is perfect because it leaves me some left over to sip on throughout the day. Of course, chocolate makes everything better so I added a bit of cocoa to give it that rich mousse texture. But if you’re not a chocolate fan (do those people even exist?!) you can omit it and have a vanilla pudding. It’s one those snacks/breakfasts that you can have sitting in the refrigerator for whenever you feel like grabbing a sweet bite. Leaves you no excuse not to grab something healthy.

I consider coconut water to be my “sports drink” of choice. Yes, it has sugar but it’s natural sugar so it isn’t the same as what you find in traditional energy drinks. It’s the perfect alternative if you are looking to hydrate and replenish without the additives. Whenever I am at a race I’ll leave a bag with protein powder, coconut water and a shaker bottle at the finish line. When I’m done, I’ll grab a water and mix everything up in my shaker to get those necessary calories and nutrients in during that crucial post-race window.I have also filled some of my water bottles with coconut water when on a longer bike ride and found it to be very refreshing. All in all, coconut water can be very versatile both as a drink and in food.  This pudding is a fun way to hydrate by eating something instead of drinking it. I even served it for dessert and it was a hit!

Recipe:

• 1 cup Harmless Harvest coconut water
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon nut butter
• 1 banana (if you don’t like banana you can add 1 cup of fruit-berries,mango,pineapple)
• 2-3 small pitted dates

Directions:

1. In a medium size bowl or container place coconut water and chia seeds. Place in the refrigerator and let sit for at least an hour or overnight.
2. Once chia seeds and coconut water have been soaked, add to a blender. Then add remaining ingredients- cocoa powder, nut butter, banana and pitted dates.
3. Blend until smooth and creamy. Top with your favorite toppings- fruit, granola, nuts, seeds…