There are many conflicting viewpoints on eating close to bedtime. Personally, I need to eat something an hour or two before bed, otherwise I wake up ravenous in the morning or even in the middle of the night. When it comes to exercise, I like to get up and get to it first thing when I wake up, and I’ve found that having a balanced snack in the evening gives me the energy I need to do that.
I don’t usually make “fancy” desserts, but while I was having coffee at Le Pain Quotidien with a friend last week, their cute little chia pudding parfaits caught my eye. I’d totally forgotten how much I like chia pudding. Nothing like getting reacquainted with an old favorite. Especially an…easy and satisfying old favorite?
Why does my head always go to sleazy dating metaphors? I don’t actually have any old favorites left—that’s what 2011 & 12 were for. I have to stop joking that I’m going to die alone with hypoallergenic cats because the universe might hear me. Anyway, may as well enjoy the ride (and the ridiculous, smack-your-forehead “dating in NYC” stories that make me wonder wtf is wrong with the male of the species) and eat some delicious food that happens to be conducive to a long and healthy life, hypoallergenic cats or no.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz milk of choice (I used unsweetened soy milk because that’s what I had—I’m sure coconut milk would taste especially wonderful)
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cinnamon (optional)
- stevia or other sweetener to taste
Directions:
- Whisk together ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
- When ready to eat, heat or enjoy cold. Top with desired toppings.
I added a few chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and blackberries, but this would be great plain or with additions like nuts or whipped cream. This whipped coconut cream sounds particularly amazing.
Just a heads up, depending on the milk and toppings you use, this dessert packs around 10 grams of fiber. If you are like me and have the stomach of a goat or follow a plant-based diet and are, like, “10 grams of fiber, nbd,” then full speed ahead. However, I just want to put that out there for people whose digestive systems aren’t used to eating that much fiber in one sitting. Drink plenty of water with this and maybe avoid eating after a really high-fiber meal. Or you know, wing and it maybe be pleasantly surprised that you can enjoy almost half your daily fiber needs in one delicious go.
What’s your favorite “fancy” dessert to make? Do you like to eat before bed? Do you know wtf is wrong with men?