Watermelon Lime Chia Fresca

This watermelon lime chia fresca features homemade watermelon juice that you make in your blender! Water, lime juice, and chia seeds are added to this watermelon juice base to create a hydrating endurance drink that’s perfect for a pre-run or pre-workout… or for sipping on the patio!

I’ve observed a palpable change in my outlook on things since the beginning of September. While I can’t quite place a finger on the reason why my outlook has changed, I can speculate that it has to do with a couple of things. The first is that I finally feel grounded in a place. For much of the summer, things were very much “up in the air.” For those who don’t know, I was trying to make up my mind between staying in Ottawa or moving back to British Columbia. I struggled with my decision more than usual before ultimately deciding to stay here for now.

Unlike many people, I find it more challenging to stay in one place for a long period of time than to move. As I wrote about in my previous post, I find comfort in constant motion–I get a rush from adventure. The moment I become bored/frustrated/uncomfortable, I start to dream about how much better my life will be when I move to place X. And as much as moving facilitates growth, sometimes staying in one place and working through feelings of frustration and discomfort is going to be the path that leads to a better outcome in the long run. I have been fortunate to have lived in a handful of different places across Canada throughout my almost 25 years, and indeed my move to Victoria at the age of 19 was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The personal growth that occurred, the experiences that I had, and the relationships that I built are things that I will always hold dear in my heart.

And yet, now that I have been back in Ottawa for over two years, I am realizing how much I also cherish my friends, family, and sense of place here. I don’t plan to stay in this city forever, but there is a sense of relief that comes with committing to a place for the next twelve months. What my plans are for September 2020 and beyond will fill a whole other blog post, so I will elaborate soon!

As a consequence of deciding to stay put, my outlook has changed in another way. This is going to sound sappy, but I’m starting to see the good in people in a way that I think I refused to over the past several months. It’s interesting how we humans create narratives based on our individual perception of reality. For the majority of the summer, I had the intention of leaving Ottawa, so I built a wall up around myself. I told myself that everyone here is unfriendly, boring, in their own heads, resistant to change or new ideas. But since I decided to stay here, I think I’ve been more smiley, open, perhaps even walking with more of a bounce in my step. And you know what? It seems that the strangers I see throughout the day are also friendlier and happier. Could the adage that “As we think and act, so our world becomes” be true? I certainly think there is more than a grain of truth to it.

This Watermelon Lime Juice Chia Fresca is the perfect drink to mark the last full weekend of summer. I wanted to make sure that you got this recipe before that glorious summer gem of a fruit had disappeared from markets and grocery stores for another year. For the majority of the summer, we’ve been enjoying our watermelon the traditional way, but I thought I could put a fun spin on it by creating this fruity variation on a chia fresca.

I was first introduced to the concept of chia fresca when reading Christopher McDougall’s book, Born to Run, a few years ago. The Tarahumara tribe in Mexico’s Copper Canyon–known for their impeccable endurance and stamina–traditionally consume a drink made with chia seeds, water, and lime juice before and during long runs through steep terrain.

While I can’t say that I have ever run anywhere close to the distances that the Tarahumara cover, I have enjoyed many chia frescas before long runs over the years, and I can vouch from experience that they are ultra hydrating. My watermelon juice addition really takes it over the top and adds a punch of sweetness to an otherwise tart drink.

To make this watermelon lime chia fresca, you’ll start by preparing homemade watermelon juice in your blender. Simply combine 3 heaping cups of cubed watermelon with ¼ cup of water and blend until smooth. Then strain through a fine mesh sieve to separate out the pulp.

Once you’ve done that, divide the juice between two glasses. Dilute with some water and stir in chia seeds. Set aside to thicken for 5 minutes, then stir in some freshly squeezed lime juice.

As written, the recipe serves 2. Feel free to cut it in half if you want just one drink, or scale up if you are serving a crowd.

I hope that you have a chance to make this recipe while watermelon is still in season. If you do, let us know how you liked it by leaving a comment and a rating at the bottom of this post. And don’t forget to post a photo to Instagram with #upbeetkitchen and @upbeet.kitchen. I’d love to see your takes on this recipe!

Happy weekend to you all! <3

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