Nutrient-Packed Strawberry Chia Pudding for Toddlers

This pudding really hit the spot! It was the first pudding we’ve made for our son, and he absolutely loved it. Chia seeds give it a boost of fiber and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help support healthy bone development. The warm notes of cinnamon and vanilla make it super comforting, while the strawberries add the perfect touch of sweetness and tartness to balance it all out.

This recipe is gluten-free, nut-free and vegetarian. It can easily be made vegan and dairy-free by swapping the milk for a non-dairy alternative.

We actually made four times the original recipe so we could enjoy some too - it’s that good! The version below is for a standard batch which makes 2 servings.

Check out our IG post for more details on how these came out! :)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk

• 2 tablespoons chia seeds

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ cup chopped strawberries

Instructions:

• In a measuring cup, add the milk, chia seeds, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Stir well, then refrigerate for about 15 minutes to let the chia seeds start to absorb the liquid.

• After 15 minutes, stir in the chopped strawberries and pour the mixture into a saucepan. Bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low.

• Cover and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly absorbed. This should take around 20 minutes.

  • Note: it’s still going to look liquid-y at this point but the chia seeds will continue soaking up the liquid as it cools.

• Let the pudding cool, then it’s ready to serve!

TIPS ⬇️

• Add a touch of honey for sweetness if desired! Once we added just a touch of local honey, our son enjoyed it even more (lol, go figure!)

• Give small bites at first to help your baby adjust to the texture of chia pudding if your baby hasn’t had chia seeds yet. It did take a few bites for our son to adjust to the texture of the pudding.

• Extra pudding can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, we like to freeze individual portions (up to a month max) so our son has an easy, nutrient-rich snack ready to go during the week. We used these KeaBabies Freezer Trays to portion out the pudding - they're perfect for baby-sized servings!

Recipe inspired from the Big Book of Organic Baby Food