Where Are Chia Seeds in the Grocery Store?

Chia seeds are a great addition to a healthy diet, but you’re not the only one who isn’t sure where to find them in the grocery store. Most of the time, you’ll find the chia seeds in either the health foods aisle or a bulk foods aisle (like where you might find large bags of rice). Grocery stores might also stock chia seeds in the baking aisle or near nuts.

Now that you know where chia seeds are in your grocery store, though, what do you do with them? Not sure what chia seeds are? Read on to learn more about the superfood, including what chia seeds taste like, why they’re good for you and how to find them without even leaving your couch using the Fetch app.

Skip the trip to the store and find chia seeds easily using Fetch Shop

From capers to sun-dried tomatoes to chia seeds, if it’s not a grocery staple, it can be tough to find in the grocery store. It’s easy to find the groceries you need in Fetch Shop; just type it into the search bar. Your personal shopper will know where to find chia seeds in your grocery store of choice.

What’s Fetch Shop? It’s another way for you to earn points just for shopping. Simply tap the cart icon to the left of the camera icon in the Fetch app and see all of the retailers you can earn points with by just shopping in the Fetch app.

Here’s how to earn rewards on groceries with Fetch Shop (from the comfort of your couch):

1. Download Fetch.
2. Open the app, and navigate to Fetch Shop; on your “Discover” (home) tab, you’ll find the Fetch Shop icon directly to the left of the camera icon at the bottom of your screen.
3. Once in Fetch Shop, scroll to the “Food & Drink” category, click where it says, “See all,” then find the grocery retailer of your choice, and select that store.
4. Tap “Go shopping!” and then simply do your normal grocery shopping online.

What are chia seeds?

We’ve all been there. You know you need to eat healthier, so you start Googling healthy eating and dieting and how to sneak better foods into your everyday diet. Sooner or later, you hit an ingredient you’ve never heard of. What are chia seeds, even? 

Chia seeds are just what they sound like: seeds of the chia plant. There are two main kinds:

• Black chia seeds: Your most common chia seeds, which come from the salvia hispanica plant.
• Golden chia seeds: Related, less common seeds from salvia columbariae. 

You might recognize the name from “chia pets,” which grew bright green sprouts like fur on ceramic sculptures. Don’t go buying a chia pet for your diet, though; you’ll often find chia seeds in one of two places at the store: health foods or bulk foods.

What do chia seeds taste like?

You’ll notice a very mild, nutty flavor to foods with chia seeds in them, which makes it a great addition to both savory and sweet dishes. 

For the most part, chia seeds taste like whatever dish you’re eating them in. Tossing a serving of chia seeds into a smoothie or a bowl of granola almost feels like cheating, as it’s hard to tell they’re even there. 

If you’re worried about how to integrate chia seeds into your diet, look for products like chia pudding, chia kombucha or granola made with chia seeds.

Are chia seeds good for you?

Chia seeds are pretty good for you, and an easy way to give your diet a boost without looking to artificial powders or supplements. 

What makes chia seeds good for you? One ounce of chia seeds contains:

• 8 grams omega-3 fatty acids
• 10 grams dietary fiber
• 5 grams protein
• Essential minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc)

This isn’t just a health fad, either. The Mayo Clinic identifies chia seeds as a great source of fiber, which has been known to promote intestinal health and reduce cholesterol. 

If you’re looking to lose weight, fiber takes longer to digest and can leave you feeling full and satisfied longer.

Are chia seeds gluten free?

Yes, chia seeds are gluten free! Wheat, barley and rye are traditional cereal grains and contain gluten, but chia seeds are seeds which are used like grains. Before you ask, chia flour is gluten free, too. 

Whether you have celiac disease, gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity, chia seeds should be good to go (always double check the labels, though). 

Do chia seeds go bad?

Chia seeds can go bad, but you should be able to tell pretty easily. The fatty oils that make chia seeds good for you can oxidize, which will eventually cause chia seeds to spoil and grow rancid.

Just because chia seeds go bad doesn’t mean they can’t have a long shelf life, though. You just need to be smart about storing your chia seeds:

• Keep chia seeds in a cool, dry place
• Store in an airtight container
• For added longevity, try keeping your chia seeds in the fridge

It’s important to remember chia seeds have a subtle taste. If you notice an unpleasant smell or taste, they’ve probably gone bad. You should also consider them suspect if you find moisture or clumping in the container. When properly stored, chia seeds can last between 2 and 5 years.

How long to soak chia seeds

You should soak chia seeds for about 20 minutes (we recommend soaking ¼ cup chia seeds in a cup of either almond milk or water). Soaked chia seeds keep for about 5 days in the refrigerator. 

It might not take much time, but if you’re in a rush or just don’t like the hassle, it’s perfectly fine to toss dry chia seeds into your smoothie or yogurt.

When are chia seeds done soaking?

You only need to soak chia seeds for about 20 minutes, but what happens if you lose track of time? You can tell whether you’ve soaked your chia seeds long enough if they have a chewy texture, like tapioca. 

Stay home and get your chia seeds using Fetch Shop

Open up the Fetch app, tap that shopping cart icon and see how easy it is to have a personal shopper find chia seeds in the grocery store for you. Still prefer to walk the aisles on your own? Then check the health foods, bulk groceries or nuts in your store (and remember to check for any offers in the Fetch app).