Recipe: Mango and Coconut Chia Pudding

Well, you know if you've been reading our latest posts or follow us on Instagram that I'm pretty much living the zombie lifestyle at the moment thanks to my low iron levels - but there has been some good news lately!

You might already know that in addition to being a coeliac, I also have a million and one food intolerances. My team of doctors hoped that they were only going to be a temporary issue and that, as my stomach would heal from the gluten damage, the intolerances would begin to disappear. And they are disappearing!! 

I can now enjoy mangoes, grapes and coconut without any issues - mangoes being one of my foodie obsessions at the moment. 

As my iron levels are so incredibly low at the moment - and I have at least a month to wait until an iron infusion (if I even get one) - I'm feeling pretty rubbish. I don't have the energy to do much of anything - I still walk of a morning, but only because my iron levels are also effecting my circulation so if I don't walk, I'm crippled with pain by the afternoon. My lack of energy is also the reason I haven't been posting as often - because sitting at my computer feels like a total chore. 

But I'm trying everything I possibly can to feel better! I can't absorb iron due to the damage in my stomach and my coeliac disease - but I'm still trying to eat as much iron as possible in the hopes that some will get through - or at least that a placebo effect will happen :P 

Did you know that chia seeds are full or iron?! This recipe has over 37% of your RDI of Iron just from the chia seeds. That's way more than a steak - and better still, the vitamin C from the mango will help you to absorb more of that iron.

I mean, if you need to increase your iron, you want to do it in a tasty way - right? And I promise you, this chia pudding is amazing. I ate it for lunch yesterday and even Jesse was eyeing it off. 

So let's get onto the recipe! >> 

Mango and Coconut Chia Pudding serves 1-2, easily multiplied
gluten free, sugar free, raw, vegan, high in iron 

3 tbsp (45g) chia seeds 
1 cup unsweetened almond breeze (or whatever milk you like best!)
~1 cup of mango*
1 tsp vanilla 
1 tbsp shredded coconut, toasted if desired 
Optional: additional sweetener if you like things sweet

Combine all of your ingredients and leave to soak in the fridge for about an hour, stirring once whilst waiting. 
If you want your pudding to come together instantly, put your chia seeds, milk and vanilla in a blender and blend until thick. 
Top with mango and shredded coconut and devour. 

Notes: 

• *I just chop up a whole mango and whatever doesn't go straight in my mouth goes in the pudding :P
• You can also use 1/2 cup coconut milk and 1/2 cup almond milk if you want to boost the coconut flavour! 

But tell me, what's the one food you are loving at the moment?