Pre heat oven to 180°C/160°C for fan forced oven
In an electric mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add maple syrup and egg, beat until well combined
Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger, and cinnamon into the butter mixture, then add chia seeds
Using a wooden spoon mix all ingredients until just combined and a dough is formed
Flour your work surface and knead gently until dough is smooth. Wrap in cling wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside
Flour your work surface again and roll out dough to about 5mm thick. Using a gingerbread man cutter, cut as many as you can and then repeat the step again until you have little or no dough left.
Place the gingerbread men 2cm apart on your baking tray
Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes. This is dependent on whether you want firm or soft gingerbread men.
Take out of oven once done and allow to cool on rack.
In the meantime melt your white chocolate buttons in the microwave for 30seconds or create a baine marie on the stove (in a small pot filling ½ way with boiling water, place the white chocolate buttons in a bowl and place on top of water, stirring until melted)
Once cooled a little place in a pipping bag and decorate your gingerbread men.
New season Chia Pods® have dropped this month across Australia in over 500 Woolworth’s stores and leading independents. Apple Spice and Banana Mango will available from November 7th nationally.
Made with sun ripened Australian grown chia seed blended with coconut milk, apple and spices, the Apple Spice Chia Pod® can be enjoyed both hot and cold and contains your daily requirement of Omega 3 ALA and is 20% of your daily recommended intake of dietary fibre.
Mango Banana Chia Pod® made with a refreshing blend of mango, banana and apple is equally high in Omega 3 and a great source of fibre and contains no added sugar.
Perfect for eating on the go. Chia Pod® combines sun ripened chia seeds grown in the Kimberley region of Western Australia with only natural plant based ingredients. Free from artificial flavours or preservatives. Gluten free, dairy-free and vegan, it is a great natural energy breakfast or snack with the perfect combination of healthy fats, fibre and plant based protein.
Founder and Chairman of The Chia Co, Australian farmer John Foss is excited to launch these new season Chia Pod® variants, which offers consumers a convenient way to support their health goals.
“Consumers are seeking more plant based foods, want to know more about natural growing methods and seeking less processed foods. Chia Pods® positively respond to these needs in a convenient pack format that supports a healthy lifestyle”.
The Chia Co are passionate about positive plant based nutrition and grow chia in the pristine Kimberley region of Western Australia. They bring chia to Australian consumers in the simplest form; pure, clean and sun ripened and carefully combine their chia seeds with wholefoods to create positively simple products consumers can conveniently enjoy every day. For more details on The Chia Co range of products visit. thechiaco.com
New Chia Pod® retail at Woolworths $2.99.
About The Chia Co
John Foss, farmer and chairman, founded The Chia Co® to make a positive contribution to the health and wellness of the global community by making the nutrition of chia available to everyone, every day. In just over ten years, The Chia Co® has become the largest producer of sustainable grown chia, working with passionate Australian farmers to grow the highest quality chia and managing a completely transparent supply chain – like a farmer’s market, on a global scale. Recognizing a gap in the market for nutritious breakfast options, The Chia Co® launched Chia Pod® in 2013, an innovative product combining the nutrition of chia with real fruit and coconut milk or almond milk. The success of this product has been followed with the recent launch of The Chia Co Salad and Breakfast boosters.
Grind chia seeds in a blender or food processor. Add the strawberries and maple syrup and puree until smooth. Spoon two teaspoons of the mixture into the bottom of each popsicle mould and place in the freezer. Add the cashews, coconut cream and vanilla extract to the remaining strawberry mixture. Puree until smooth. Divide amongst moulds, insert a popstick in each one and place in the freezer overnight until set.
To remove the popsicles from the moulds, run under hot water to loosen them a little.
Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender and blitz until the mixture is sticky and can be pressed together between your fingers. Roll into balls and place a straw into each one. Place into the freezer to set for a couple of hours.
Place banana’s, eggs, salt, baking powder, Oats+Chia into a blender and mix until smooth. Pour into a bowl and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to thicken up. In the meantime add the berries, water, chia seeds and maple syrup to a small pot and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes, stirring continuously to stop it sticking. Let it cool slightly then blend until smooth. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or butter in a fry pan on medium low heat until melted. Add in tablespoonfuls of the pikelet mixture and cook until golden then flip over and repeat. These are quite delicate so don’t rush the cooking process by turning up the heat. Once cooked spread them with butter and some of the jam and serve.
The pikelets and jam can be made ahead of time. Store any leftover jam in the fridge.
Preheat oven to 160 degrees and line a slice tray with baking paper. In a small bowl combine the chia seeds with the water and let it sit for 5 minutes until a gel like texture is formed. In a medium size pot melt the coconut oil and maple syrup or honey and stir until combined. Add the chia seed mixture, the rest of the ingredients and combine with a wooden spoon. Place the mixture into the lined slice tin and press it down firmly with the back of a glass. The firmer you press the mixture, the less chance you will have of it crumbling once cooked.. Place into the oven and bake for 50 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and let it sit until completely cool. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes then using a sharp knife cut into squares. Drizzle with melted dark chocolate if you wish. Store in an airtight container.
Jemma Gray was once a self-confessed sugar addict, but after adopting a predominately plant-based approach to eating – 80% healthy, 20% indulgence, free from refined sugar and grains – she now feels fitter, healthier and happier than ever. She shares her delicious recipes, fitness tips and motivation through The Healthy Journey, hoping to inspire others to embrace a life of balance, and to nourish themselves with delicious, healthy food.
A positively simple addition to The Chia Co range
The Chia Co’s latest product launch, The Chia Co – Breakfast and Salad Boosters are packaged in their bright ‘chia orange’, inspired by the rich red soil of The Kimberley region, where the company grows pure, clean and sun ripened chia.
The booster range is a convenient way to add a nutrition boost to your food. High in fibre, high in omega 3 ALA and a source of protein, these plant based boosters are a clear 5 star healthy rating with the additional benefits of being vegan, free from artificial flavours and colors and no added salt.
John Foss, founder and farmer is excited to launch the booster range, which offers consumers chia blends with benefits. “These positively simple boosters inspire foodies to create healthy and convenient meals. We use clean, natural ingredients starting with Australian Grown chia combined with premium Australian seeds and nuts. Our boosters are a nutritious addition to any meal’’ says Foss.
Available from September 10th at independent grocers, health food stores and online at thechiaco.com
Chia.
Positively Simple.
At The Chia Co. we are passionate about positive plant based nutrition.
Our chia seeds are bursting with fibre, omega 3 and protein.
We guarantee the high quality in each chia seed as we grow it ourselves in the pristine Kimberley region of Western Australia.
We bring chia to you in its simplest form, pure, clean and sun ripened. We carefully combine our chia seeds with premium wholefoods to create a positively simple boost for your breakfast.
Chia.
Positively Simple.
At The Chia Co. we are passionate about positive plant based nutrition.
Our chia seeds are bursting with fibre, omega 3 and protein.
We guarantee the high quality in each chia seed as we grow it ourselves in the pristine Kimberley region of Western Australia.
We bring chia to you in its simplest form, pure, clean and sun ripened. We carefully combine our chia seeds with premium wholefoods to create a positively simple boost for your salad.
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil and cook the asparagus for 2 mins. Remove from water and then add in the peas and broad beans for 1 min. Drain well.
Combine asparagus, peas and broad beans in a bowl and mix lemon juice, zest, verjuice, olive oil and mint, mix well and season to taste.
Slice zucchinis into ribbons with a vegetable peeler or a mandolin. Add to the rest of the salad and gently toss.
Top with Salad Booster and serve.
Freeze bananas overnight. Remove the frozen bananas from the freezer and chop them up into pieces and put in blender. Add almond milk, cacao powder, vanilla extract and syrup of choice. Blend for a few minutes, or until well combined. Take a bowl and scoop/pour the smoothie out top with The Chia Co Breakfast Booster, blueberries and strawberries.
Ballantyne and The Chia Co teamed up to launch the newest and most exciting spread on Australian supermarket shelves, Ballantynes Chia Spreadable Butter with the help of chef to the stars, Kate McAloon.
Two Healthy Baking Master Classes were held at South Melbourne Market. Melbourne’s foodie bloggers, joined Kate and our team to make the most delicious Cacao + Coconut Biscuits and Apple Crumble. Thanks to an amazing group of people for joining us to celebrate this newest product launch and spreading the love!
Burpees. They’re the workout equivalent of going to the dentist: We know it’s good for us, but boy oh boy, do we dread doing it. Maybe it’s cause they’ve got such a ‘prison workout’ vibe? Maybe it’s because they’re such an evil exertion of both cardio and strength? Whatever it is, few moves strike panic into the heart of fitness seekers quite like it.
What are they?
Burpees are a staple of circuit and boot-camp training, and they’re great because they require very little equipment and space. Individual descriptions tend to vary, but basically every burpee follows the same theme: squat, sprawl, execute a pushup, jump back to the squat position, and execute a vertical jump.
Why do they feel so awful?
Burpees spare no part of your body — they really are a full-body exercise. They also include jumping. Not one, not two, but THREE jumps are needed to complete a single burpee. The combination of full body strength and the cardio involved means that both your muscles and your lungs will be complaining pretty quick.
Who’s loving them:
Pretty much everyone. From the CrossFit community to our workout crush Kayla Itsines, and virtually every fitness instructor, circuit trainer and boot camp sergeant out there.
Why you need to do them:
If you’re struggling with motivation, here’s the quick run-down of exactly why burpees should be part of your regular fitness routine
- A fast and effective way to get your heart rate up.
- Uses every major muscle group
- Builds stamina
- Builds functional strength
- Challenges the circulatory system
- Encourages better coordination
- Boosts your explosive power
Pro-tips:
While they’re never going to be easy, there are some ways to make burpees feel a little less terrible. We’ve sourced these pro technique tips from CrossFit coach Erica Giovinazzo, via the greatist:
- Don’t rest. Pace. If you stop, it’s harder to get going again. So instead, pick a pace you can maintain for however many burpees you need to do, and don’t stop.
- Feet go before hands. shoot your legs back before your hands hit the ground.
- Turn on robot mode. Don’t think about how many burpees you have to do. Just go into robot mode, moving and focusing on one movement at a time.
- Breathe! Try and to get into a rhythm with your breathing, keeping your breath as steady as possible.
- Avoid common faults. Don’t arch your back to come out of the burpee, as this can cause an aching lower back. Don’t lose your range of motion – your chest should touch the floor in the push-up, and your hips need to open up all the way at the top when you jump. Try looking straight ahead as you stand up and jump— this can help you to remember to open your hips.
Not great for…
This isn’t a get out of jail free card. However, if you have joint mobility issues or are not yet strong enough in your core, trying to smash out 15 burpees may do more harm than good. Talk to your doctor if you’ve got any concerns. There are some modifications that you can try if you’re not quite up to the challenge yet, check out this great article on easy burpee mods from dailyburn.com
Spring is here, which means brighter mornings, warmer days and some fresh energy. This is the perfect time of year to change-up your daily routine with some new healthy habits. We might be in the final quarter of the year, but there’s still time to make a real difference to how your 2016 shapes up.
Wellness can be a pretty overwhelming topic – we get that. From the latest superfoods you should be eating and hippest workout trends, to the advice from experts which changes every day… staying on top of it all can seem impossible. But it doesn’t need to be so complicated. Sometimes, the smallest adjustments to your day-to-day habits can make a huge impact on your wellbeing.
Here’s some of our favourite positively simple ways to step up your wellness game:
Take it outside.
Whether it’s a morning walk to the train station, or taking your lunch outside, getting at least a few minutes of fresh air each day will boost your mood and relieve stress. Plus, those valuable rays of sunshine will give your body a dose of Vitamin D that it probably hasn’t had for few months!
Make it simple: Incorporate a 15-20min walk into your morning or evening commute – but don’t forget the SPF, even on cloudy days. Check out Eco Tan’s range of natural, organic sunscreens.
Take care.
The colder months can wreak havoc on our skin, hair and nails, so now is the time to think about giving back to your body with some vital nourishment. But we’re not talking about a day at the spa: there are plenty of easy, at-home care routines that you can try.
Make it simple: Try dry brushing for 10mins before your morning or evening shower to increase circulation, promote detoxification and slough-off that dry winter skin.
Eat more fibre.
Fibre is hugely important to a healthy diet – and most of us aren’t getting enough. Make an effort to get your daily serve of fibre (about 25g) to promote heart health and digestion, as well as keeping you full of energy and less likely to reach for that tasty (but naughty) 3 pm snack.
Make it simple: Try adding chia to your breakfast smoothie or sprinkle into your lunch salad – one Chia Booster provides 6g of fibre.
Drink more water.
It’s nothing new, but water is a health essential. Getting between 1.5-2 litres per day will make an enormous impact on your digestion, skin, hair, energy levels, metabolism… the list goes on.
Make it simple: Invest in a quality water flask and try adding fruit and herbs to make drinking water more fun! We love Fressko’s beautiful fruit-infuser water bottles, pictured here with watermelon and rosemary. This clever thermos will keep your fruit water cold in summer, and fruit teas hot in winter.
Get mindful.
There’s a good reason why some of the world’s most successful companies include mindfulness in their employee wellness programs: it has been scientifically proven to increase productivity, reduce stress, and provide a long list of emotional and mental health benefits.
Make it simple: Incorporate just 10mins of mindfulness practice a day, and you will notice the benefits almost instantly. There are plenty of excellent, free online guides available to help you on your way – the Headspace app is one of our favourites.