Do you eat seeds? Now you’re probably thinking like one of my clients said to me one day: ‘I’m not a bird’! But the truth is, you don’t need a bird to eat seeds! In fact seeds have such a great nutritional profile that I eat them everyday…along with nuts (so does that client now). Birds are definitely onto something good.
But aren’t they high in fat? I hear you say… True seeds are a source of fats but these are healthy fats. We need some healthy fats each day for essential fatty acids, which helps keep our skin soft, deliver fat-soluble vitamins, and are a great source of energizing fuel.
Seeds are packed with nutrients like protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. Add seeds to your cereal, yoghurt, smoothies, in baking, on salads or vegetable dishes, in mash, in pancakes or even in your pizza base!
Here are 5 great seeds to start including:
- Flaxseeds or linseeds: These are a source of dietary fibre and plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.
- Chia seeds: These are a source of dietary fibre, iron, folate, calcium, magnesium and plant based omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seed pudding recipes: vanilla or mango
- Pumpkin seeds or pepitas: These are a source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc and protein.
- Sunflower seeds: These are a source of B vitamins including folate as well as a source of vitamin E.
- Sesame seeds: These are a source of copper, manganese, calcium and magnesium.
