Yields:  about 3/4 cup, ground            Prep Time:  5 minutes       Total Time:  5 minutes

This mixture is a great boost to any smoothie, cooked oatmeal, muffin or cookie batter and the recipe is completely customizable to taste preference.   The mixture below includes pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds and chia seeds, boasting omega-3 fatty acids, protein, B vitamins, zinc, selenium, copper, calcium and magnesium (to name a few)!

Ingredients

4 tablespoons raw, whole flaxseeds

4 tablespoons raw, whole chia seeds

3 tablespoons raw, shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Directions

1. Place seeds in a coffee or seed grinder, and pulse until ground into a fine powder.

2. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 1 month.  *NOTE: Since seeds have oils that are sensitive to oxygen, freezing or keeping in the refrigerator is best to keep the mixture fresh.

So, this is one of my best kept nutritional secrets.  Well, it is really not a secret, but it is a super easy way to boost the nutritional content of most foods, from baked goods to smoothies.  Anytime the kids have oatmeal, I mix a couple teaspoons right in.

I prefer to buy my seeds whole (as opposed to ground) and often in bulk.  Using a coffee grinder at home to grind the seeds keeps the sensitive healthy fats from oxidizing and going rancid before use. 

Many seeds, from pumpkin seeds, to flax seeds to sesame seeds contain a burst of nutrients inside.  They are truly a nutritional powerhouse considering their size and all of the vitamins, minerals and healthy fatty acids packed right inside.

Even taking a traditional family favorite baked good recipe and adding a few extra tablespoons of this seed mixture kicks the recipe up a nutritional notch.  I am a sucker for chocolate chip cookies, so I make a Boosted Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that still gives me that chocolate fix, but also boasts extra vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Another great recipe with the super seed mix:

Blueberry and Chia Seed Waffles