Warm Up With Chili

Today is National Chili Day!  Whether you enjoy your chili with beef, chicken or vegetarian style, chili is a popular comfort food during the winter months.  Unlike many comfort foods, indulging in a warm bowl of chili actually proves to be beneficial to your health! Here’s why:

The most common ingredient in chili is, of course, chili peppers.  Although hot chili peppers, such as habaneros and jalapeños, may not be pleasurable for many people to eat, they do contain an antioxidant known as capsaicin.  It has been shown that capsaicin in peppers briefly help curb appetite, aiding in weight loss.  The hotter the pepper, the higher amounts of capsaicin and therefore the more antioxidants it provides.

If spicy flavors aren’t for you, seasonings such as chili powder or cumin add great flavor to a bowl of chili and are still rich in nutrients.  A tablespoon of chili powder is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron and phosphate.  Cumin contains high levels of magnesium, a mineral that helps control blood pressure and iron.  It has also been shown to aid in digestion and control diabetes.

The great thing about chili is that there are many ways to make it.  There are a variety of ingredients you can incorporate that will not only add flavor and texture, but nutritional value as well.  Along with spices you can incorporate a variety of lean meat, vegetables, and even whole grains into a bowl of chili to turn it into a well-balanced, substantial meal.

Here are a few pointers:

-When making a meat based chili, always be sure to opt for lean beef or use turkey or chicken instead.

-Black beans, white beans and kidney beans are common ingredients in all chili recipes that add protein and fiber.  Don’t hesitate to use as many different varieties of beans as you’d like!

-Not many chili recipes contain whole grains, but who says you can’t incorporate them into your own recipe?  Adding whole grains such as barley, quinoa, brown rice, or wheat berries will keep you fuller longer and promote heart health.

-Sneaking extra veggies into your chili will increase the flavor and the vitamin

content.  Onions, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, carrots and even shredded potatoes are a few vegetables that will taste great in your next chili recipe.

Chili serves as a hearty, comforting meal that will certainly fill you up and provide your body with a handful of antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals.  So next time you make a pot of chili, switch up the typical ingredients you would normally use and try something new! Take a look at this Hearty Vegetable Chili recipe on our website and make it for dinner tonight!

Which healthy ingredients will you incorporate into your next pot of chili?

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