Every single morning for a few months, I made a smoothie for breakfast. A quick alternative that I could drink during my morning commute, a berry smoothie with Greek yogurt and juice seemed like a great way to kickstart my day. 

 

In an attempt to make these smoothies even healthier, I decided to start adding ground flaxseed to them. 

 

So what did I do? Bought a giant bag of ground flaxseed from Costco. 

 

And now what? 

 

I have a giant bag of ground flaxseed that’s 95% full sitting in my freezer. Time to find new ways to use it up!

 

Flaxseed may have the power to reduce heart disease, cancer and diabetes. There are three primary reasons why flaxseed is so awesome:

• It contains omega-3 essential fatty acids. And that’s good fat we’re talking about. Omega-3s can lower your triglycerides, battle against depression and improve your cardiovascular health. 

• Fiber, fiber, fiber. Flaxseed gives you a double-whammy of fiber because it contains both the soluble and insoluble kinds. 

• It has antioxidant qualities, thanks to the lignans it contains (and a lot more of them than other plant foods!). 

• From a taste perspective, it can add a delightful nuttiness to just about any recipe. 

 

Flax is super versatile, and make for a great addition to everything from baked goods to meatballs. 

• Add a spoonful to your morning or pre-workout smoothie.
• Sprinkle it into your yogurt, hot cereal or oatmeal.
• Add it to baked goods like muffins, cookies and bread recipes. You can also use it as an egg substitute in some recipes.
• Include it in ground beef recipes, like meatloaf, meatballs and meat lasagna.
• Make your own pizza dough? Add some flax!
• Sprinkle it on cooked vegetables to add a unique flavor. 
  
  

As convenient as it may be to buy the pre-ground kind, be aware that it’ll go bad faster than the whole seeds. If you don’t mind grinding your own, a coffee grinder or blender will work just fine. 

 

Store flaxseed in a cool, dark and dry place like the fridge or freezer. If you transfer it to a different container, make sure it’s opaque and air-tight.