Mail Delivery: Chia Goodness Review

Do you ever wonder what type of effects the foods you choose for your children will have on them later in life? My brother and I have always talked about how my mom refused to feed us any sugary cereals growing up, therefore as soon as we were old enough to do our own grocery shopping, we both went straight for the boxes with cartoon characters and marshmallows.

After a few years of getting that out of my system (I probably consumed enough sugar in college to last my lifetime), I returned to being able to eat a little healthier but still reverted back to needing sugar every few days. Thanks to Big Sister E, I am now pretty close to being free of my sugary cereal addiction, although that may just be because I don't want to feed it to her and she's old enough that there is no way I can eat it sneakily enough that she won't want some, too.

I won't lie though. When I heard about Chia Goodness, of course I immediately thought this:

Really? I'm going to eat something that grows? Hmm.

In reality, the chia seed is amazingly nutritious and Chia Goodness is a unique new concept in breakfast cereal. As opposed to the traditional cereals found in stores, the ingredients in Chia Goodness are completely raw. You just put 2 tablespoons of cereal in a bowl and add 4 tablespoons of liquid (usually milk or water), cold or hot, and wait a few minutes for it to thicken. The result is something similar to oatmeal, except much better for you.

With 5 times the calcium of milk, more Omega 3 than salmon or flaxseed and an excellent source of protein and fiber, Chia Goodness is also gluten-free and lactose-free. Currently in 3 flavors (Original, Cranberry Ginger and Apple Almond Cinnamon), Chia Goodness is available at Whole Foods throughout the US and Canada and online at Ruth's Hemp Foods.


Then it came to taste it. My husband happened to be up earlier than I was the day we were set to try Apple Almond Cinnamon Chia Goodness, so when I came into the dining room, I found Big Sister E already eating it. DRY.

Sigh. My husband needs a little extra help following directions sometimes.

Surprisingly, she wasn't only eating it, she was HAPPILY eating it. "You like it?" I asked. "It's good!" She replied. From peeking into the bag, my husband wasn't willing to taste Chia Goodness at all (he said it looked like birdseed) and I have to admit that I wasn't too excited about it either. However, I mixed the small amount in a bowl with milk and waited for it to thicken, wondering how this tiny amount was going to fill me up.

After giving Chia Goodness a few bites, I'll admit that it was... different. I think part of my issue was that, thanks to my husband, I was having a hard time getting the birdseed reference out of my mind. Along with that though, I was not a huge fan of the different textures and feelings of the chia seeds in my mouth, however, the taste really wasn't too bad. Taking a different route, I later decided to try Chia Goodness mixed in a cup of yogurt and found that it was really pleasing that way. I like to mix granola into yogurt and this was similar except with more flavor and appeal (the dried apples, almonds and raisins were an added bonus).

I plan on continuing to eat Chia Goodness with my yogurt and I'm definitely pleased that Big Sister E likes it because it is so incredibly nutritious and filling for her. Whether or not I'll be able to convince my husband into trying it one day is another story. To find out more about Chia Goodness, its healthy ingredients or to see a video on this new meal, visit Ruth's Hemp Foods.

Thanks, Chia Goodness, for being a good alternative for a healthy breakfast for my daughter and for being one of my new favorite ways to have a tasty snack. And, for surprising me by delivering this so quickly and efficiently, thanks, Mail Carrier.

(Other than the sample of Chia Goodness that I was sent by Light Years Ahead, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this product.)