Interesting data on Chia seeds just like from the Chia pets.

http://icreatewisdom.com/chiaseed.html

Quote:

Chia Seed - Ten Benefits from this Power Food and Brain Food By Christopher Westra Author: Harmony Earth 30 Day Energy Diet Do you want to increase your brain power and body strength with one of the most powerful foods imaginable? Chia seed imparts power and energy to the user. I've used it for years. Here are ten benefits to using chia seed in your life. Chia seeds are: 1. Nutritious. Chia seed provides ample calcium and protein to your tissues. The seeds are also rich in boron, which helps the body assimilate and use calcium. The nutrients also support proper brain functioning. 2. Water loving. The seed can soak up ten times its weight in water. Do this fun experiment. Put one tablespoon of chia seed in a cup of water and stir. Wait a few hours and see what happens. When inside your body, the seeds help you stay hydrated longer, and retain electrolytes in your bodily fluids. 3. Easily digestible. The shells are easily broken down, even when swallowed whole. This is an improvement over flax seed, which have to be ground up to be digested properly. If you eat flax seed whole, it will just pass through. 4. Concentrated. If I could only take one cup of food for a few days, I'd choose chia! The food value per volume is simply astounding. You don't need much. 5. Mild tasting. Unlike some seeds, the flavor is very mild. The mild taste makes it easy to put in sauces, smoothies, breads, puddings, and whatever you want. They won't really change the taste, but will add to your nutrition! 6. Energy enhancing. The health pioneer Paul Bragg did an experiment an endurance hike with friends. They divided up into a chia-eating group and another group, who ate whatever they wanted. The group eating only chia seeds finished the hike four hours, twenty seven minutes before the others, most of whom didn't even finish at all. 7. Versatile. The seeds can be used to replace less-healthy fat in just about any recipe. You can use them uncooked in salad dressings, spreads, fruit shakes, ice cream, and just about anything you want. You can also add them to cookies, cakes, muffins, and other baked goods. I usually just mix in a couple of teaspoons to my juice or water and drink them down! 8. Slimming and trimming. Yes, the seeds will help you lose weight, for two reasons. The first reason is that they are so filling that you will eat less of other foods. The second reason is that they actually bulk up and cleanse your body of old "junk" in your intestines. 9. Endurance enhancing. Chia seeds are known as the "Indian Running Food". Also, the ancient Aztec warriors used chia seed during their conquests. I'm a runner, and I've used chia seed to enhance stamina and endurance on my mountain runs, some of which are several hours long! 10. Regenerating. After eating, the nutrients travel to the cells very quickly due to the ease in digestion and assimilation. Use them when you want to build or regenerate healthy body tissue. I hope to give you some recipes soon, but go ahead and experiment. Chia seed is great for those who want to increase their energy on the Harmony Earth 30 Day Energy Diet. Sincerely, Christopher Note - Try adding some to this awesome raw chocolate fudge recipe that my boys and I just developed! Another fun recipe is Wisdom Light Chicken Soup. ____________________ <blockquote> Christopher Westra is the author of "The Harmony Earth 30 Day Energy Diet". Learn Ten Simple Secrets to Harmonize Your Body with the Earth and Increase Your Energy and Vibration in 30 Days! </blockquote>

Or just another fad?

I hear they're one of the better sources of omega 3's. But do they actually taste very good? I think I had some long ago and didn't think much at all of the taste.

I usually just eat walnuts for omega three's. Among other things I add them to my blueberry smoothies. Flax seeds are also good (actually a lot better than walnuts for omega 3's) for that. Not so sure chia would blend as well as i recall they're very little and pretty hard. Other than omega 3's, I don't think there's anything really special about chia seeds. Think that site's just trying to make some money.

Chia seeds are definitely "in" at the moment, but I wouldn't call them a fad because they are quite nutritious. I got a small amount a while ago, and tasted a few on their own, and thought they were a little nutty and a little bland. I used a small amount in smoothies and they seemed to grind up well enough.
I prefer flaxseed oil for convenience and because I find it hard enough to get enough good fat and protein down each day without putting extra fibre in the way, lol.
At my work, its usually old people asking for them as a fibre supplement.