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Seed Nutrition

Why are seeds showing up everywhere? Once destined as a decorative topping, they’re now appearing as key internal ingredients of both products generally considered healthy (think oatmeal) and those considered unhealthy (think chips). They’ve even made their way to sweets, like these waffles!

Let’s compare some of the more widely used seeds individually and see why manufacturers are slipping them into their products and which ones you might want to do the same with at home. Most of them can be sprinkled on top or added into recipes without changing anything else in the recipe, but a few others do require some alterations. For instance, beware of Chia seeds which will absorb liquid and expand when used.

Seed Nutrition

What a Difference a Seed Makes

You’ve heard the expression that “good things come in small packages” – well, this is so true for seeds! Seeds can add a unique nutty flavor to different foods but they are much more than that. These tiny bits actually contain protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Use the following chart to pick your favorites, but since each type of seed is so unique it’s good to find a place for all of them in your diet.

Seed Qualities

The numbers in the table below are calculated on 1 Tablespoon of the listed seed.

Seed	Best Component	Reason to Use	Protein	Fiber	Fat	Carbs	Calories
Chia Seeds	High fiber that swells when moistened	Feel full & snack less	3 g	5 g	4.5 g	5 g	60 cal
Flax Seeds	Omega-3 fats	Keep cholesterol in check if you avoid fish	1 g	2 g	3 g	2 g	37 cal
Hemp Seeds	Perfect protein – all 20 amino acids	Helps balance hormones	3 g	1 g	4 g	1 g	57 cal
Pumpkin Seeds	Magnesium	Help fight diabetes	2.5 g	.5 g	4 g	1 g	45 cal
Sesame Seeds	High in calcium & copper	Add taste and texture	1.5 g	1 g	4.5 g	1 g	52 cal
Sunflower Seeds	Vitamin E	Inexpensive	2 g	1 g	4.5 g	2 g	51 cal

Note: These numbers may vary slightly depending upon where you look, we’ve taken them from nutrition labels on packages of raw seeds. Roasted seeds, due to the addition of oil, will have higher numbers in the fat and calorie columns.

Seed Nutrition

Additional Information

You can pretty much shake some seeds into whatever recipe you’d like, just beware that chia seeds will absorb the liquid element in your recipe as they absorb the moisture and transform from crunchy seeds to jelly-like balls. For ideas on how to include sesame seeds in your diet, see our sesame seed post.

To find out how long seeds last, check our nuts and seeds menu page.

To find out how long other foods are good for, please visit the Dairy, Drinks, Fruits, Grains, Proteins, Vegetables and Other sections of Eat By Date or use the search function below.