F is for Flax Seed [A-Z Challenge 2015]

Experiments From Auntie's Test Kitchen

Intro  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Conclusion



                                                                                                                    

F is for Flax Seed

My friend, Susan, introduced me to flax seed.  I'd never eaten those lovely pellets of crunchy goodness until she presented them to me sprinkled over Greek yogurt and fruit.

According to WebMD's website among other benefits, flax seed contains Omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to cardiovascular health.  Great for those who can't or don't eat fish.  They also contend that flax seed contains both soluble and insoluble fiber, which, according to various studies, are good for digestive health and cholesterol management.

One problem...

This site, among others I viewed, recommend consuming the ground variety of flax seed.  No thank you.  Not only does ground seed have no flavor, but it has the texture of sawdust.

Gah!

But wait, isn't that a little exotic?  Nah, I buy it at Wal-Mart.  In fact, the Mart used to carry it in small serving packets for about 80 cents.  Now, all they carry in that size is chia seed (which I don't like as much) or GROUND seed.

Gah + growl

anyway...

So far, I've found two enjoyable uses for this food.  One, I sprinkle it on a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  The second is the "recipe" I like most:

I call it my "Banana Split Breakfast."  It contains:

1 medium sliced banana (I also add various berries when they are in season)
1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
1 100-calorie packet (or small handful) of almonds
1 TBSP (approx.) of whole flax seed.

Put it together in a way that suits you.  Another variation I like is to use to use cottage cheese instead of yogurt, remove the almonds, and add diced apples and mandarin orange wedges with the banana.  Either way you've got some protein, fiber, plus all the nutrients in the fruit.  For me, it keeps the sugar cravings down without tasting like cardboard (another reason not to use ground flax seed).  Plus, it's a simple breakfast that doesn't require any actual cooking.

My only warning would be that if you're not used to high fiber food, use a very small amount of the seeds and increase slowly so you'll know how it will affect your tummy.

Enjoy.