Coconut-Chia Pudding

Name: Coconut-Chia Pudding
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 2-3
Ingredients: 1 can of full-fat coconut milk (400g); 2 egg yolks; 25g chia seeds whole or ground, or more if you prefer thicker pudding; 2 tbsp vanilla extract; for chocolate version 2 tbsp raw cacao powder; 2 tbsp sweetener of your choice (I used a mix of xylitol and honey)

Kids need a snack after school – let’s make it nourishing

An after-school snack is essential to provide nutrients after a long day in school. Some children aren’t great school lunch eaters in that case a nutrient-rich after-school snack is even more important.

Kids might be too ‘busy’ and don’t prioritize lunchtimes for actually eating. They often come home from school with their lunch box untouched. There are two things which might help in that situation.

First, make sure breakfast and their after-school snack is really sustaining and nourishing, and second, pack just a small amount of easy finger food in their lunch box.

In the past, I had a rule with my kids that they have to finish their lunch box before they get an after-school snack. Certainly, this might teach children not to waste valuable food but I don’t like the fact of being forced to eat. In my childhood, I had a lot of “food fights” with my mother. She insisted that I always have to empty my plate. No doubt, her intention was to nourish us well, but this stressful mealtime experience made me to never force my own kids to eat and always spend mealtime in a cheerful atmosphere.

My solution to untouched lunch boxes

Besides being to “busy” to eat their lunch my children often classify foods as “suitable” for school lunch or not. One and the same food might be loved and eaten at home but disliked and ignored at school. My solution to avoid frustration on both sides.

pack a small non-perishable lunch snack (cracker/beef jerky/granola bars) to avoid food waste and
focus more on the natural whole foods and nutrient-rich meals and snacks consumed at home before and after school

One snack option which is perfect to fuel up on nutrients after school is a Coconut-Chia Pudding.

Coconut milk is made up of medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCFA’s) which are metabolized in the liver, immediately converting them into energy for the body and brain, rather than them being stored as fat. The energy delivered by coconut fat is slowly released which balances blood glucose and helps to feel free of cravings (no all-day snacking). MCFA’s are easily digested, meaning less strain on the digestive system. Coconut fat also stimulates thyroid function, which might be amongst other things (sleep deprivation) a reason why it is a tough battle to get teenagers out of their bed in the morning. Furthermore, the fat in coconut has unique health-promoting properties and is known to be antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal (great for candida infection) and antiprotozoal (e.g. giardia infection). Because it speeds up metabolic rate, immune system function is enhanced and thus healing and cell regeneration as well. This equates to less inflammation overall.
Chia seeds add protein (2tbsp chia is equivalent to half an egg), fiber and omega 3 fatty acids.
Egg yolk is rich in vitamin D, A, B- vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Cacao powder is rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, calcium as well as fiber and protein (2tbsp has 2,4g of protein)
Raw honey contains many vitamins and minerals and acts as a prebiotic beneficial for a healthy gut flora.