Healthy Chicken Chili

Hello all you wonderful women. Today we are going to be talking about healthy eating. Since I don’t cook, I have my friend, Lori, helping me make some healthy chicken chili. 

​Today is going to be a little different than most weeks’ posts. You're going to want to read the text AND watch the video this week. The helpful information is all in the text, but watching us make this great chili is the fun part.

Why Does What We Eat Matter?

Eating healthy is a very important part of keeping our bodies in top performance. I'm sure this isn't the first time you've heard this. We all know it but have many excuses not to do it.  As women we have a lot of things to get done in a day so it’s important that we have the proper fuel to run efficiently and effectively. You wouldn’t put kerosene in your car’s gas tank or let it run dry and expect your car to get you where you want to go. The same thing is true for your body. You have to put in the right fuel at the right times to function at your best.

This site is about becoming confident in who we are and what we can do so you may be asking how eating healthy pertains. If you aren’t properly energized, you can’t focus or remain clear in your desires and decisions. Unhealthy eating can also cause health issues which will leave you weak and not able to be your full self. Good fuel is the basis for everything we do.

Now, all that being said, I’m the first to admit I’m not the greatest eater. I don’t cook so most of my meals are frozen or snacks. I do, however, try to get my basic food groups in each day. This can be done without too much fuss AND without cooking, unless you count melting cheese in the microwave as cooking. (I'll tell you a couple of my favorite quick meals below the activity) Eating healthy doesn't have to take a lot of time and effort.

Chicken Chili Makes A Great Healthy Meal!

Lori chose to show me how to make this healthy chicken chili because, with a few added crackers, it contains all the food groups in one bowl. As a bonus, one pot of it will make enough for me to freeze and have a bowl of chili at least once a week all winter.

I don’t really like chili, so I wasn’t terribly excited to help cook up this pot but, once it started cooking, I became more intrigued. Lori's a great cook, which is why I like going to her house for meals. Even things I would never eat, she makes taste good. She didn’t let me down with this chili either. It's excellent!!! 

Getting The 4 Basic Food Groups

This chili meal has all the four basic food groups. I know there are many modern food pyramids, but I go back to the old, original, four basic groups.

1. Meats/Proteins - The three kinds of beans and the chicken

2. Milk/Dairy - Cheese or sour cream added to the top

3. Fruits/Vegetables - Carrots, peppers, onions, celery, and tomatoes

4. Breads/Cereals – Crackers or croutons

If you can make sure you get at least one serving of each of these every day, you are on the right road to eating healthy. 

Of course there are different servings recommended ​each day. For instance it's recommended that you have at least 4 servings of fruits and vegetables but only 2 of meats and proteins. For me, however, if I ate all the servings recommended every day, I would have to eat twice as much as I normally do. 

Not Everyone Needs The Same Foods

Everyone is different, we all need different nutrients to function our best. Hundreds of books have been written on different diets so I'm not going to go into that information here. What you need to know though, is that no diet is best for everyone. Our bodies are different and so is the food they need. 

If you are looking to lose weight, or gain more strength, or increase stamina, or improve your health, or have clearer thinking, or ...  then the easiest thing for you to do is play with what you eat until you find what works well for your body. 

That doesn't mean making faces in your mashed potatoes. It means take away and add foods to see if it makes a difference for you. ​You can also go to your doctor and have them do a blood test to determine your metabolic type. Diets based on metabolic type will get you closest to what your body really needs. You can find what's best to eat for your metabolic type by searching online. 

I don't like my blood being taken so it's easier for me to just take away something I normally eat and see if I feel any different after a week. Or, if I feel cruddy, I see if I recently ate anything I don't normally eat.​ Just by paying attention to how you feel after you eat, you can figure out what the best fuel is for you.

Variety

Eating a variety of food is important, which is why I get​ in at least one serving from each of the food groups. If I only ate what I felt like eating, I would only be getting one food group filled - breads/cereals - I love my carbs! It doesn't take much to get in all groups however. Putting them together, like with the chili we made this week, is an easy solution.

This chili is high in lean protein and filled with vegetables. It’s a very healthy meal. Chili is a nice cozy food to eat now that the temperatures are getting colder too. It's a comfort food. With that in mind, making chili is our activity for the week. If you want some quicker meals, see my fast, four food group, favorite,s below the activity.

So here's how to make this great chili.