Whether you have babies, toddlers, or big kids, chia seeds are a superfood for the whole family. And if you’re wondering how to eat chia seeds, the good news is that there are a ton of quick and easy ways to serve them up. In this episode, I sat down with Malina Malkani, a registered dietitian nutritionist, speaker, and best-selling author of "Simple and Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Manage Portion Sizes and Identify Allergies." Malina is also a media expert, Forbes Health Advisory Board Member, and former national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Malina and I talk about the health benefits of chia seeds and what you should keep in mind before serving them to your kids. She also explains how to eat chia seeds, and lets us in on her favorite ways to use them in meals and snacks. Welcome 1:45 Let’s talk about your story! 4:53 What are chia seeds? 5:37 Why do you think people are becoming more interested in chia seeds? 7:03 What are the nutritional benefits of chia seeds? 9:39 Why are chia seeds a great food for kids? 10:11 Are chia seeds a good option for kids who have chronic constipation? 11:05 For families who are avoiding dairy, are chia seeds a good option for calcium? 12:11 Do you have to grind chia seeds to get the full nutritional benefit? 15:41 Do you have to soak chia seeds or can you eat them as is? 17:48 Can chia seeds go bad and do they have to be stored a certain way? 18:35 What is the recommended serving size for babies, toddlers, and kids? 20:08 What are your favorite ideas for serving chia seeds to kids? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions the video of Malina singing the national anthem at FNCE. Malina mentions her blog post, “Serving Chia Seeds To Babies and Kids.” Malina talks about BabyLedFeedingCourse.com and StartBabyLedFeeding.com  Learn more about Malina on her website. Follow Malina on Instagram and TikTok. FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.