THE BEST CHIA SEED PUDDING

Before I even get started writing about the best chia seed pudding you've ever had in your life, I just wanted to say welcome to the new and improved 'PR'. It's been a long time coming to be honest and I really should have done this sooner, but I guess it always takes a major life event to change our perspective on things.

Without going into all the details, I lost a close family member a few weeks ago; and in that short space of time, a few other people around me have lost loved ones in unexpected circumstances too. It just dawned on me how precious and how short life actually is, and I started to question myself, my values and the things I really care about.

Since going through that horrible year and a half of torture with my skin, I started to share that journey on my social media in the hope that I could help others heal as well as cope whilst they were healing. I didn't think it was a big deal at the time but the response I've had has been crazy. Wanting to share the truth about healing skin disease has become my goal, and I have never been so passionate about anything in my entire life. I've always been passionate about all things creative, I've worked in the fashion industry my whole career, but nothing has touched my life and heart the way just talking and helping people like you has. Even as I write this I'm sending an email reply back to someone who asked me for tips on what to eat to heal their skin...

It's crazy that I went from wanting to be another 'fashion and lifestyle blogger' to genuinely wanting to help people, and although the idea of ASOS and Zara unboxings seem to excite me at the time, nothing comes close to opening messages from people who tell me my advice has helped them to heal their 'incurable' skin diseases.

So, I've said all of that to say, that I'm in this for the long haul, and I'm going to dedicate all my energies to the 'PR' in all its entities to make sure that I can reach more people. I really hope you will join me on this journey, not only as I build up my content but study towards becoming a qualified nutritionist and creating my own organic and natural cosmeceuticals...

"It's crazy that I went from wanting to be another 'fashion and lifestyle blogger'

to genuinely wanting to help people, and although the idea of ASOS and Zara unboxings seem to excite me at the time,

nothing comes close to opening messages from people

who tell me my advice has helped them to heal their 'incurable' skin diseases,"

So, if you guys have been following me on Instagram, which you should be! You would know that since cutting conventional grains and beans out of my diet, the latest flare up I acquired after moving back into a mouldy flat cleared up in a matter of weeks. Now before you say this was a coincidence or a fluke, as I have been eating grains religiously since the beginning of my healing journey; the quickest and most progressive period of healing was when I completed the 40-day healing programme within the Maker's Diet book by Jordan Rubin. Again, a diet that, for a month, completely cut out grains and beans. I was astonished that for the second time I had experienced a quick healing recovery just not eating grains.

I remember when my eczema first re-surfaced on my skin, how upset and defeated I felt, that although I was still eating the best way I could, it wouldn't seem to go away. Frustrated and looking for answers, I decided to purchase another book, this time written by Dr. Mark Hyman called "Food, WTF Should I Eat". The title of the book literally epitomized how I felt and trusting all the information that he posts in regards to nutrition and emotional wellness on his personal pages, I knew this was a book I needed to have in my library. The book didn't disappoint and the way he breaks down each food group, the myths that people believe regarding those food groups and what study and research have proven in regards to eating them. I wasn't shocked at all to find upon reading the grains section, that this specific food type causes inflammation in people who have autoimmune diseases such as eczema and dermatitis. For me, that's four sources that have all said the exact same thing, and because I had seen it for myself I decided to stop ignoring it, and cut out all conventional grains...

Now those of you that have known me for any period of time would know about my absolute love affair with oats. They were literally my staple food and I ate oats all day every day! It's when I started looking at how much I actually ate them I could see how they could have been a bit of a problem! I was definitely over doing it! So what was an 'oat-obsessed' girl going to eat for breakfast? What was I going to do for snacks and baking?

At the time all of that was just oats!

I started off going back to eating Coyo Coconut Yoghurt in the mornings with frozen berries and raw honey. I mean, I love that breakfast but at roughly £7.99 a pop Mr. Budget was firmly saying no.

It just wasn't sustainable. It's also at this point that people start to realise that your earnings have a huge say on your ability to eat and live healthy. If you can't afford it, you literally cannot do it.

One of the things I hope to do on this blog is to encourage people to eat healthily without spending majority of their pay check on food. Regardless, you will spend a little more because organic and quality food is naturally more expensive. The key is to be frugal and make meals that will stretch and last over a number of days rather than buying really expensive ingredients to cook a meal that will only last a day.

And that's what I sought to do with the chia seed pudding. Although the ingredients themselves may seem a bit pricey it actually stretches for a longer period of time.

"It just wasn't sustainable. It's also at this point that people start to realise

that your earnings have a huge say on your ability to eat and live healthy.

If you can't afford it, you literally cannot do it,"

The funny thing is that when I first tried chia seed pudding I found it disgusting and really difficult to eat. It was just bland and had absolutely no flavour. I tried it with coconut milk, cocoa nibs and fruits and it never seemed to give me the excitement I wanted when it came to eating it.

The absolute key thing I've learned when it comes to cooking anything in a healthy, whole food kitchen is using herbs and spices to bring flavour to your food.

I had already made an amazing recipe using cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger for my porridge oats so I thought why don't I just incorporate the same flavours into my pudding?

Anyway, before we delve into the recipe I wanted to give you a few of the nutritional benefits of eating chia.

Two Tbsp of Chia Seeds contain:

• Fiber: 11 grams.
• Protein: 4 grams.
• Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are omega-3s).
• Calcium: 18% of the RDI.
• Manganese: 30% of the RDI.
• Magnesium: 30% of the RDI.
• Phosphorus: 27% of the RDI.
• They also contain a decent amount of zinc, vitamin B3 (niacin), potassium, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2.

Chia seeds are also high in antioxidants and Omega-3 fats which are essential for repairing the skin and eliminating free radical damage.

I really hope you enjoy this chia seed pudding as much as I do and if you try it be sure to leave a comment below!

INGREDIENTS:

2 MASHED BANANAS

3-4 TBSP OF CHIA SEEDS

1 TBSP OF SPROUTED FLAXSEEDS

PUMPKIN SEEDS

SUNFLOWER SEEDS

2-3 MEDJOOL DATES

1/4 TSP OF CINNAMON

1/4 TSP GINGER

1/4 TSP ALLSPICE

1/4 TSP NUTMEG

METHOD:

1. You start by mashing the two bananas into a bowl. Once these are fully mashed you add the chia seeds and flaxseeds until it's completely mixed in
2. Chop the dates into small pieces and add these to the banana mix along with the pumpkin and sunflower seeds
3. Next add a 1/4 teaspoon of each of the spices to taste
4. Lastly, once all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed in, cover the mixture with almond milk until you can't see underneath
5. Thoroughly combine the mix with the almond milk. Cover and place in the fridge to set overnight
6. Feel free to add more seeds, coca nibs or fresh fruit as a topping in the morning