I love autumn. The colors are so lovely at this time of year, the yellows and oranges on the trees before the leaves fall make it a joy to walk around, to go on hikes in nature. The ground is covered with leaves of all shades, adding another layer of beauty to the world. The daytime light is soft now, instead of the harsh summer glare. There is so much to appreciate and enjoy. And because the days are getting shorter, I enjoy getting up early in the mornings to make the most of the daylight hours.

As part of my fall rituals, I am focusing on eating healthier and more sustaining breakfast to start my days. I love chia seeds, granola, milk and honey. I have been combining these together to make chia pudding with granola, which is delicious as well as nutritious. Adding blue spirulina takes this simple breakfast to a whole another level – the resulting blue spirulina chia pudding is gorgeous! The blue spirulina has such an intense cobalt blue color that I feel like I’m staring at a work of art.

To get the pudding-like texture you need to soak the chia seeds for about half an hour. I soak them the night before and leave the blue spirulina chia pudding mixture overnight in the fridge, which makes life easier in the mornings. When you wake up, the beautiful dish is ready. The simplicity, ease and beauty make breakfast something to look forward to.

What is Blue Spirulina?

Blue spirulina is an algae, a cyanobacteria that was consumed by the Aztecs. In other words it has been around for a long time, which is quite reassuring. It’s so packed with nutrients that it’s considered a superfood – high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, it provides essential amino acids and has anti-inflammatory properties. (Please note though that while it supports the immune system, if you have an auto-immune disorder like multiple sclerosis, lupus, or arthritis, you should not take blue spirulina as it’ll worsen symptoms). There are all kinds of claims that it may help lower cholesterol, fight cancer, etc., however there haven’t been enough scientific studies to prove these claims. Overall though it has a ton of nutrients.

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds also have many health benefits. The omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants may help protect the heart and brain. The fiber in chia seeds can support digestive health, stabilize blood sugar levels (helping control diabetes), help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. So the combination makes the blue spirulina chia pudding a true superfood breakfast powerhouse.

How to have the Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding

You can have the blue spirulina chia pudding simply as is (see my pudding directions below), or layer and add toppings as you like. The overall taste (if you make it the way I do) is mild and creamy, a little sweet from the honey, and crunchy from the granola. Adding berries imparts freshness and a little tartness. I’ve shared my favorite combination here but really you can customize however you want – substitute other fruits, you don’t need to add yoghurt, you could add ground flaxseed or wheat germ. You can make it vegan by substituting plant-based milk/yoghurt and maple syrup instead of honey.

Because I prep it the night before, it’s ready in the mornings. Sometimes when I don’t feel like eating breakfast, I’ll save it and have the blue spirulina chia pudding as a late afternoon snack. It’s good any time!