Okay, I know you’re all enticed by the title of this post and probably want to scroll to the bottom. If you didn’t already do that, just resist the temptation for one more minute. You can do it. 
Workout
This morning, after a measley six hours of sleep (I blame both homework and Khloe & Lamar), I awoke to get my heart pumping at the gym. I switched things up a bit, starting with 5 minutes on the StairMaster before heading to the exercise room to complete this biceps/shoulder workout:
I took 30-second water breaks in between sets and – man – was I feeling it! After the upper body toner, I mosied on over to the arc trainer for 15 minutes of steady cardio. My quads were still sore from Saturday’s workout so I wanted to listen to the bod pod and take it easy.
Lunch
After five hours of class, my friend Sherri and I were more-than ready for a leisurely lunch. We walked over to the dining commons and enjoyed a lunch with a few new-to-us menu additions. Does cheezy black beans lure you in? Yeah, me too.
The cheezy black beans were simply black beans with melted pepperjack daiya shreds, and they were phenomenally delicious! I also helped myself to fresh green beans and cuban roasted sweet potatoes, in addition to my usual salad topped with hummus. I think I need to go to a hummus addicts meeting or something. Those exist, right?
Dinner
After our final class of the day, dinner seemed to approach in no time! After Kristen got out of her beloved zumba class, I met her at the dining hall for our evening meal. There were more fresh items we had never seen before, all of which proved to be incredibly delicious.
Have mercy (Uncle Jesse, anyone?). Sorry, I had to. Anyways, tonight’s meal featured roasted tomato adzuki beans, chili-glazed eggplant and a side romaine salad topped with an assortment of veggies from the salad bar. The beans were incredible, and had an incredible, rustic flavor to them. If I wasn’t so satisfied, I totally would have gone back for seconds!
MILA Giveaway
This weekend, I received a very special gift in the mail from the lovely Brittni Winslow, pediatric occupational therapist and passionate spokeswoman for MILA, a special blend of 100% raw chia seeds by Lifemax.
I don’t often talk about my affinity for chia seeds, but I can assure you it exists with a vengeance. I often mix 1 Tbsp. of chia seeds with water and eat it plain! Chia seeds are an excellent thickener. You can add them to sauces, soups, dressings and smoothies. They’re so versatile and have a great, mild nutty flavor.
There is no denying the nutrition powerhouse that is the chia seed. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help support maintenance of brain volume (potentially memory), cholesterol-lowering fiber, protein and a host of minerals. Fun fact: Gram for gram, MILA chia seeds contain 6x more calcium than dairy milk!
One of my favorite things about MILA is the fact that it was created with science-based evidence behind it. A team of doctors and researchers are very passionate about the benefits of chia seeds and have conducted many double-blind studies on the heart-healthy benefits of chia seeds. One study showed that, compared to other strains of chia seeds, MILA took the prize for antioxidant content. For more information, you can watch the video here.
This weekend, I helped myself to a bowl of chia pudding. I added 2 Tbsp. of MILA to 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder (I used Life’s Basics) and unsweetened almond milk until it produced an extra thick pudding. Topped with fresh berries, it was basically the snack of my dreams. You can click here for some more MILA recipes.
And now, you have the chance to try some MILA for yourself. I’m giving a 1-day pack of MILA to one lucky reader! (FYI: The packet is identical to the one in the above picture.) All you have to do is one or both of the following:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me how you would use MILA. Get creative!
- Tweet about the giveaway, saying “I want to win some MILA from @theloveofkale! http://wp.me/p1Tki5-13S” and leave a comment telling me you did so.
Each comment will count as a separate entry and I will choose the winner tomorrow night by Random.org. The winner will be announced in Wednesday’s post. Good luck!
Stay lovely,
Heather
Disclaimer: I was personally contacted by MILA and was given the product to review. I received no monetary compensation and all opinions come from my own noggin!
I just recently starting adding chia seeds to my diet and am obsessed. They double the size of my oatmeal, talk about happiness. I would use the MILA to make apple pie oatmeal, so yummy. I cut up an apple, microwave it with cinnamon and add it atop my creamy oats.
I tweeted as well!
Yay another workout to try tomorrow!! (I’ve tried the mozzarella daiya cheese and must give that pepper jack a try now
I have never tried Mila before but am loving the many health benefits of it. I would incorporate it in an afternoon smoothie with some almond milk and frozen strawberries.
Just tweeted!
I would add MILA chia seeds to my morning yogurt bowls!
I like to add Chia seeds to my soups and they add fiber and swell up with the broth! Yummy homecooked comfort foods!
Tweeted too!
I would love to win! I’ve had a bit of a hard time finding chia seeds here in good old Alberta, Canada, and my current bag is running dangerously low! I add chia seeds to my breakfast yogurt bowls.
Every evening I make a hot cup of tea and mix a scoop of chia seeds in which get all jellied like a pudding at the bottom. Great way to end my day with healthy nutrition too!
I’ve heard of people mixing chia seeds in coconut water, which I’d love to try!
Just tweeted thanks for a great giveaway!
Well I have a special recipe for spinach tuna cakes, and they call for chia seeds, and I would love to use MILA chia seeds in it!
I would LOVE to try that pudding recipe you just posted about. I have never made chia puddings-I would want to get creative with all the various puddings I could make. I have only used chia in oatmeal, yogurt bowls and as a garnish on my toast w/ pb-love the added crunch!
Id love to win! I put chia seeds on everything!!
I would probably use them in my overnight oats made with old-fashioned oats, raisins, walnuts, cinnamon and almond milk
Yum!
I’d probably start slow and cautious like I did with chia seeds, just sprinkling them into my yogurt. Then I’d branch out and add them to smoothies, baked goods, and eventually dare to try seed-specific recipes! puddings! the works! The recipes you linked to look good
Thanks for hosting I’m psyched
Tweeted this – https://twitter.com/#!/DareYouToBlog/status/186978020685381633 =D
I’d love to try it in a pudding!
Hey Heather!! Love the post. I have just recently started incorporating chia seeds into my diet after reading so many blogs that rave about the health benefits! I would love to win a sample from Mila! I love the fact that it has so many antioxidants! If I won, I would use chia seeds in my overnight oats! Oats, vanilla almond milk, honey, &craisins topped off with chia seeds. I love the way the chia seeds gel up and absorb some of the liquid in the overnight oats. Yum!
Just tweeted from Anjgoesfit!
I used to use chia seeds every morning in my oatbran/oatmeal, but i haven’t used them in a while! I would probably use them in lemonade or iced tea because it’s getting warmer outside – plus extra nutrition!
I tweeted about this giveaway! https://twitter.com/rebeccaablock
I absolutely love chia in my oatmeal as well as in the base of puddings. Yum!
I would add MILA to my morning oatmeal or yogurt bowls! I love how thick chia seeds make them!
omg I have been DYING to get some chia seeds!!!!!!! I would definitely add it to my oatmeal
tweeted it!
I would use it in overnight oats (almond coconut milk, muesli, protein powder, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg) and raspberry jam! Tweeting right now.
That arm workout looks awesome-I’ll have to try it sometime!
That pudding sounds delicious, I’d love to try it!
The pepperjack daiya shreds are my favorite! I love the little “kick” they give to any dish. Your lunch and dinner both look delicious today!
I’ve actually never tried chia seeds, other than in GT’s chia kombucha (gasp!) I’ve been dying to though. The nutritional stats are awesome and they’re so versatile! I would love to try a variation on your pudding or try adding them to my oats/smoothies. Yum!
I would love to get my hands on some MILA… I am dying to try chia seed breakfast pudding.
Chia pudding or in smoothies!
Sounds excellent! I love chia seeds. I mix it with my hot cereal for a protein packed breakfast. 1 part water, 1 part vanilla almond milk to 2 parts quinoa or buckwheat, tsp of vanilla and 1 tsp of cinnamon, cook and then stir in chopped almonds, raisins and other fruits. Sprinkle with chia and hemp hearts and serve! Delicious
I’d probably add it to a lot: oatmeal, pancakes, smoothies…the list goes on. I love chia seeds and have heard great things about this product so I’d love to have the chance to try it out!
I have an obsession with chia. I use it everyday. I think I’d try it in an overnight oatmeal bowl. Wow, so not a creative idea!
I would add chia in my overnight oatmeal puddings! I make them the night before and put them in the refrigerator — they are delicious!!
I’d mix MILA into my greek yogurt or use it to make overnight oats!
i tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/pace_of_laurel/status/187038522371346432
I tweeted – I’d make a thick strawberry and mango smoothie
I would use a scoop of chia to add to my breakfast oatmeal for added protein and fiber!
Tweeted!
I like to make fruit smoothies or just eat a cup of yogurt so I’d like to try and mix some in that too! Thanks for a great giveaway!
I’d use MILA in my blueberry/banana/spinach smoothie.
I would love to try the chia pudding you made. Sounds wonderful!
First time commenter here, love your blog! I’d love to use this blend to replace the cornstarch I use to thicken up the sauce for my veggie stir fry. I also have a brain injury from a car accident (mostly memory problems) so drinking this in a glass of water every day might help to improve that!
PS: I tweeted as well
I would definitely put it in greek yogurt and make some sort of dessert
I tweeted!
Aaand, workout added to my bookmarks
This one looks good!!
As for the chia seeds, making chocolate chia seed pudding is probably my favorite thing to do. I also add them to my smoothies, oatmeal, etc. I’ve wanted to try adding them to sauces, though because of their thickening properties. That could be an interesting experiment!
<3
I'm about to tweet you also!
Tweeted!
I’ve always wanted to try it in my oatmeal!
Mmmm…Chia Seeds! I’m thinking it might be interesting to make poppyseed-like muffins, but using the chia seeds instead. A little lemony & almondy flavoring to finish it up. I’m going to have to give this a try now!
Just this weekend I blogged about a chia seed recipe that I came up with. It’s a raw chocolate chew made with raisins, raw cacaco, whole or milled chia seeds, and a bit of flax seed oil. It’s like a healthy version of a tootsie roll!
Another workout! I love getting workouts from you! The chocolate protein pudding with MILA sounds so yummy, I would have to give that a try. Or maybe on a spinach salad, on top of some soy yogurt?
Tweeted
looks so taste!
I tweeted!
I would love to try Mila chia seeds! I would add chia seeds to my brewed green tea, leave it in the fridge overnight and add it to my green smoothie for a great pre workout drink.
the cheesy black beans and the eggplant look so good. i’m so jealous that your school has such nice options! my school did sometimes…i found an amazing dining hall with lots of fresh and light sides and salad toppers in my senior year, OF COURSE, right when i was leaving. sad face.
that upper body workout looks awesome!! pinning.
I would make lemon chia seed muffins instead of poppyseed muffins
Oh how I love ch-ch-Chia. Though I’ve never had MILA, this would be a fun new treat! MILA would be great in my favorite pre-workout snack of chia mixed with almond milk and cacao nibs with stevia and mint. YUM!!! Also a great add-in to oatmeal, smoothies, so many tasty options.
BTW, I am very impressed that your hall serves daiya….hands down, best vegan cheese ever
I LOVE Chia Seeds!! I’ve never tried this brand before. It looks cool
Although it’s not very creative… I love putting Chia Seeds in my oatmeal. It makes them perfect!
It looks like a great oatmeal addition!
Yum! I’m always looking for ways to get some more healthy fats in my diet…I’m trying to think beyond the usual addition and maybe using them in a baked good! Strawberry walnut chia muffins
I tweeted!
I love chia seeds, so I know I would love mila! I would use them in yogurt and oatmeal!
I’d probably start by putting them in my oatmeal. I have been wanting to try chia seeds for the longest time!
This is my first time commenting. I love your blog- it is so inspirational to so many people! I have been using chia seeds for about a year now- in smoothies, otameal, etc. They’re so health promoting. I would love to share them with patients at a new wellness center I’m involved with.
Another great way to get more chia seed into your diet is to stick some fruit and greens in the food processor (I used an apple and spinach this morning), blend it together, add a bit of water and blend again until you have the consistency of a thick soup. I then added a tablespoon of chia seeds, stirred it up and let it set for about 10 minutes. It was an awesome green applesauce!
I LOVE chia seeds. I got a few sample packets from Mila and I love it! I put chia seeds in most of my foods because it’s so versatile and doesn’t have a distinct taste. And I love the fact that it gels! I make a healthier fruit jelly with them (microwave the seeds with some fruit) and make PB&J sandwiches and I also sprinkle them in smoothies, on protein pancakes, I put them in my oatmeal and even sprinkle them on salads and grilled chicken.
Also, I tweeted!
[...] out Kasey’s post for our MILA giveaway! I’m a big fan of MILA – remember when I hosted a MILA giveaway back in April? It’s a great product and the manufacturers are so [...]