This glycemic-friendly version of chocolate pudding will satisfy your sweet tooth whilst packing a nutritional punch.

Chia seeds are an excellent source of nutrition, containing:

• Fibre, to help improve microbiome balance, digestion and satiety
• Omega-3 fatty acids, which are GREAT for skin health and inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis¹
• Phosphorous, calcium and magnesium – all essential nutrients for structural health and wellness

Chia seeds have even been shown to improve metabolic health, helping to support the cardiovascular system and help stabilise blood glucose levels.²

For these reasons, chia seeds are rightfully referred to as a superfood! Not only have I included them in this recipe for their nutrient profile, but they provide a wonderful ‘pudding-like’ texture when left to soak.

Chia seeds are a flavour carrier; therefore, what you pair them with is the flavour they’ll take on. In this case, what better flavour pairing could you ask for than cherry chocolate.

Cherries (and good quality dark chocolate) are both polyphenol-rich foods. Polyphenols are antioxidants derived from plant compounds that work to scavenge inflammatory free-radicals, perfect for supporting a healthy skin barrier.³

Cherries are also rich in skin-loving vitamin C, which is needed to aid collagen production⁴, and studies have shown that this antioxidant nutrient also improves scar formation and pigmentation⁵, which is sadly a common outcome for us folks who suffer with cystic and/or persistent acne.

Now that I’ve explained why this recipe is SO great for skin health, let’s talk about a more important topic…how it tastes.

Cherry and chocolate is a match made in heaven. Cherries are indulgent, sweet with a slight tartness – whilst the bitterness of dark cocoa cuts through, making this a beautiful flavour combination for those who have a sweet tooth, but like a little decadence when it comes to the flavour in their desserts.

The chia seeds are filling, therefore you’ll find that instead of regular chocolate – which let’s face it, never quite seems to fill us up, the high fibre content of this pudding means that after a serving you’ll actually feel nice and satisfied.

Now onto the recipe:

Ingredients (4 servings)

1 x 400ml tin coconut milk

4 tbsp chia seeds

200g frozen cherries

3 tbsp maple syrup

5 x tbsp dark cocoa powder (I use Green & Blacks)

Toppings: Cherries, dark chocolate and desiccated coconut

Method:

Simply blitz all ingredients in a blender. Allow to set in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. Separate into individual portions and top with desired toppings. It really is as simple as that.

You can also leave this pudding in the fridge for up to five days, making it a great healthy pudding batch cooking option.

1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28646829/

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36655089/

3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35694805/

4 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6204628/

5 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5579659/