So we’ve all had our mothers run behind us with 6 soaked almonds every morning as a child, ever wondered why she did that ?

The humble Almond seed is a superfood that the subcontinent is abundantly blessed with, but that’s not why our mum’s insisted on their consumption! Almonds are a great source of calcium and potassium. They aid the digestive system and help control cholesterol. 

But this superfood, isn’t only good for children; it is also an elixir for ladies expecting little ones of their own! Almonds are a great substitute for the round-the-clock cravings that pregnant women have.

Yeah… I know what you’re thinking “who is she kidding? does she have any idea how bad a pregnancy craving is?”. Well, actually I do!

I write to you, at 26 weeks pregnant with a bowl full of nuts right next to me… and I have to say, it really works! I can go on a mindless binge with these dry fruits, content with the knowledge that their nutrients are actually helping my little one, grow. What’s better is that the folic acid present in almonds, is an essential nutrient for all pregnant women and helps achieve a smooth pregnancy and delivery.

Almonds also happen to be a new mother’s weight loss partner in her post-partum, breastfeeding days; giving her balanced nutrition and filling her tummy!

Talking about pregnancy, there is one nutty recipe in particular that I absolutely love! It makes for a solid breakfast, is simply delicious and super easy to make.

Without further a due, here’s what you need to make a Chia seed and almond pudding:

Picture courtesy: Carrie V Mullins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk (You can make this at home too! Recipe to follow in upcoming posts)
• 1 cup coconut milk (This is optional, you can go in for regular milk, if you don’t like the taste of coconut)
• 1 cup of yogurt (Hung for 30 minutes)
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 6 drops of vanilla extract
• ¾ cup of chia seeds (Soak two table spoons of Chia seeds in 300ml of water a night before. Be careful, non soaked chia seeds can swell up to 200 times their original size and when consumed in their original state can cause severe indigestion).
• ½ cup almonds (Crushed into small bits)
• Diced fruits like apples (optional)

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix the almond milk, coconut milk, yogurt, honey and vanilla extract, together.
2. Once they’ve formed a homogeneous mixture, gently fold in the chia seeds and refrigerate the mixture in an air tight container, for a few hours.
3. Add the almonds to the pudding and relish the fresh and crunchy delight!

That’s all for today folks… tune in next week for another nutty recipe!

Written by: Nandini Seth Manchanda