A Chia Seed Experiment

As I previously mentioned, chia seeds were among the Superfoods for 2012 in a recent Today Show feature. Since Sunflower has Spectrum Essentials 12 ounce chia seed bags on sale for $6.99 through Wednesday, I decided to give them a try. (The regular price at Sunflower is $8.49. Whole Foods also has Spectrum on sale for $7.99 through 1/20, with a regular price of $9.49, but there's also a $1 off coupon in The Whole Deal.) They look ideal as an addition to salads, and I already sprinkled some on leftover chicken for lunch, where they provided a nice little crunch, although dental floss definitely needs to be handy afterwards. Its packaging looks like a marketer's dream, touting omega-3s, fiber, "sacred Aztec seed," "higher in antioxidant activity than blueberries," and "rich in essential fatty acids." I feel a little like being in my days of adding wheat germ to everything in the 70s, but with so many virtues and so few calories, why not give it a try. And yes, I believe these are the same seeds as in those annoying Cha- Cha- Cha- Chia plant pet ads that have sprung up around the holidays for decades. Kind of like Budweiser-guzzling, plaid pants-wearing Uncle Paul suddenly becoming a sleek, downtown hipster.