~Cantaloupe Peach Chia Fresca~ Guest Blogger, Full Belly Sisters

Justine and Flannery are sisters who share a passion for women’s health. The Full Belly Sisters blog offers useful tools so that you can be healthy and informed while you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or just striving for balance in your life.

Full Belly Sisters (FBS) is a unique health venture for women before, during and after pregnancy, and well into parenthood. We offer a variety of innovative services to promote women’s health and well-being and to empower women as they enter new–and often challenging–phases in their lives.

Cantaloupe Peach Chia Fresca

by Justine Fontinell, CHC, AADP, Full Belly Sisters

Chia Fresco is a delicious Mexican drink: it’s lemonade or limeade with chia seeds added. These seeds add a nice texture, as well as protein, calcium, fiber and omega-3s. They also have wonderful hydrating power: when chia seeds are put into liquid, they swell and hold on to that liquid. That means you stay hydrated longer.

Sometimes Chia Fresco is made with fruit; it’s usually blended and then strained, retaining only the juice. I like to use the whole fruit because (1) it’s more nutritious and filling, since you’re keeping the nutrients in the fruit’s flesh and skin and (2) I’m a busy mom and I don’t need to add any unnecessary steps to my kitchen routine!

This golden, fruity version—featuring ripe cantaloupe and peaches—is tasty, simple, and packed with vitamin C, fiber, potassium and beta carotene. In other words: it’s a great, healthful way to kick off your day!

I don’t add any sweetener to mine. But if your fruit isn’t particularly sweet, you can replace some of the water with orange juice, or just add a bit of honey or agave, to taste.

Ingredients

Yield: about 3 1/2 cups

• 1 ½ Tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 ¼ cup water
• juice of one lime
• 2 cups ripe cantaloupe chunks
• 1 cup ripe peaches, pitted (about 1 large or 2 smaller peaches)

Put the chia, water and lime juice in a glass and stir. Let this sit for about ten minutes, until it thickens. Stir again to break up the gel a bit. Then add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Enjoy!

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