Bonjour! Je vais avoir un parfait s’il vous plait!

Hello! I will have a parfait please!

I have never been to France, but sometimes it’s nice to pretend that I’m there when I sit down to a cafe, croissant, macaroon, pastry, quiche, glass of French wine or champagne. I imagine I’m just sitting outside a cozy cafe taking in the romantic atmosphere that I’ve dreamt about. As someone who loves everything Parisian and French, I couldn’t help but turn my morning oatmeal into something a little more special: a parfait! Even the word parfait sounds beautiful and elegant.

Traditionally, a French parfait is frozen dessert made of a large amount of cream, sugar, and sometimes alcohol. Like most of the other French desserts I love, the parfait is something of colorful layered beauty. Well, I understand why the French would enjoy such a treat! But I wanted to use the same beautiful concept of what a parfait entails, but in a more health conscious, waist complementing way.

This parfait is an energy powerhouse that will sustain you throughout your day.

I love to eat apples in the morning because they give you a natural morning boost to wake your body up and keep you alert without crashing afterward. They not only get your brain moving, they are also a good source of fiber, which gets your digestion moving! The oats are also a good source of fiber, and help maintain your blood sugar, and lower bad cholesterol! The chia seeds are truly a superfood, containing protein, calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B1,2,3 and potassium. Chia is the Mayan word for strength, something you will get a lot of when you incorporate these powerful seeds into your diet. The Lucuma powder has a caramel like sweetness to it, making it not only a tasty addition, but also one that is packed with health benefits. Lucuma powder provides 14 essential trace elements, including a considerable amount of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus. It also contains fiber, protein! Learn more about Lucuma powder’s benefits here. The walnuts do wonders for your skin and hair because they contain biotin. Walnuts also have a great deal of antioxidants that help you battle stress and depression.

Aren’t you ready to add this parfait to your morning recipes?! You’d be silly not to.

Ingredients

2 tbsp organic chia seeds

3/4 cup organic almond milk or coconut milk

1 tbsp organic lucuma powder

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (soak and rise them)

1/4 cup organic rolled oats

1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 cup organic apple juice

3/4 cup pure water

1 tbsp pure maple syrup/ or organic honey

1 organic apple (peeled and chopped into small cubes)

Directions

In a small tupperware combine your chia seeds, almond milk, and lucuma powder. Mix well with a spoon, cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour. I like to do mine over night. The chia pudding will grow in size and thickness. The chia seeds will grow to about 10 times their size!

In a medium size bowl, add your cubed apples, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, and oats. Mix well. In a large sauté pan, add your apple mixture, juice, and water. Saute on medium heat until the liquid has cooked down. Stir occasionally so nothing sticks to your pan.

In a small bowl, add your walnuts and cover with water. Let sit for at least 5 mins. Then rinse well, and lightly dry with a paper towel.

Once your apple mixture has cooled a little, start layering your glass: apples, chia pudding, and walnuts. I also sprinkled a little more cinnamon atop the walnuts. I love cinnamon! This parfait is a deliciously light, nutrition packed, glass of comfort. You can make a few and store in your refrigerator for a quick grab and go, without sacrificing your dietary commitments.