Nourish Milk

Our digestive system isn’t the strongest upon waking. Having a cold and heavy breakfast, like a bowl of oatmeal with fruit, nuts, and nut butter, a bowl of cereal with cold milk, granola with fruit and cold yogurt, or a smoothie full of cooling fruit, will further weaken your digestion, not to mention the fact that it is going to spike your blood sugar levels first thing in the morning, which is never a good idea.

Ayurveda suggests that breakfast should be small in quantity, warm, moist, and well-spiced. I called this recipe Nourish Milk because it provides exactly that! It is a very thin chia pudding, made with mostly water, some almond milk, spices of your choice, herbs, and soaked nuts. Chia seeds are great for moisturizing the body and hydrating and bulking up the stools in the colon. Soaked almonds and almond milk promote bone health and build Ojas (vitality), and the spices awaken Agni (our digestive fire). Sipping it warm and chewing the nuts slowly is a wonderfully delicious and soothing experience.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp chia seeds
A pinch of spice (see notes*)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp almonds, chopped

 

Preparation Method:
– Add the chia seeds, chopped almonds, almond milk, and water into a bowl, and let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes, or even better, overnight.
– In the morning, heat it up in a small saucepan, add the vanilla and spices, and bring it to a boil.
– Transfer the drink into a serving cup and enjoy.

 

Notes:
Suggestions for spices according to the seasons:

Spring | dry ginger, cloves, black pepper, orange peel, turmeric

Summer | rose petals, fennel, cardamom, coriander, coconut

Fall | licorice, star anise, cumin, ginger, cardamom, cloves, turmeric

Winter | cinnamon, dry ginger, orange peel, caraway, raisins