Easy Ways to get Flax Into Your Diet

We know that flax seeds are very nutritious -- lots of fiber and healthy fat, and very low in carbohydrates. And they are tasty, with a delicate nutty flavor. But how to get more flax into your diet? It needn't be difficult.

Remember: Flax seed is very high in fiber. Drink lots of fluid while eating flax. Whole flax seed will sail right through you - to get the benefits, grind flax seed into meal (or purchase it that way). See links at the bottom of the page for more information about flax seeds.

Easy and tasty ways to add flax seed meal to your diet:

1) Put it On or Mix it In With Other Foods

Such as:

• Yogurt and fruit
• Cottage or ricotta cheese and fruit
• Yogurt or ricotta with a sugar-free syrup
• Smoothies and shakes
• Mix it into pancake or muffin batter, or other baked goods (you'll probably need to add a little more water)

2) Make a Sweet or Savory Instant Porridge or "Mush"

The idea here is to pour boiling water over flax seed meal to make a kind of porridge that can be flavored in many ways, both sweet and savory. The amount of water will vary according to taste, but about twice the amount of water as flax seed meal is a good starting place. I also like to add a pinch of salt, and if I am going to the sweet side, a little sweetener as well. Let it thicken for a couple of minutes while the seeds absorb the water. If it's too thick and "gel-like", add more water.

Here are some ideas for "mix-ins" for flax meal.

• Peanut butter and cinnamon
• Any nut butter
• Cinnamon, sweetener, and butter
• Chopped Nuts
• Berries
• Chopped Apple and cinnamon
• Chopped Peaches
• Sugar Free Maple Syrup
• Other sugar-free syrups
• Sugar-free jam
• Unsweetened coconut
• To make it deluxe, add sugar-free chocolate with the coconut
• Coconut milk and sugar-free jam (raspberry is good)
• Butter
• Shredded cheese
• Shredded cheese and chiles (or pepper cheese)
• Cheese and chives
• Cheese and garlic

3) Flax Seed Recipes

Flax seed meal can be the basis for some yummy recipes. Here are all the recipes on the site using flax seed meal:

• Flax Seed Focaccia-Style Bread
• Flax Seed Pizza Crust
• Miracle Brownies
• Apple Flax Muffins
• Chelsie's Cinnamon Flax Cranberry Muffins
• Low-Carb "Doughnut" Muffins
• Garlic Parmesan Flax Seed Crackers
• Flax Seed Peanut Butter Hot Cereal
• Hot Pumpkin "Cereal"
• Satisfying Breakfast Shake
• Berry Protein Fiber Shake
• Flax Meal Breakfast Microwave Pudding

Information about Flax Seeds

• Flax: The Low-Carb Whole Grain - Nutrition, Health Benefits
• Flax Seed Selection, Storage, and Tips for Using
• Where to Get Flax Seeds
• Counting Carbs In Flax Meal (Q&A)
• More Flax Information - from the Flax Council of Canada - includes research on stability of oils