Nutrition by Addition: Chili
It’s officially fall! And if you’re a fan of chili, that usually coincides perfectly with the fall season! Are there ways to bring gentle nutrition into a bowl of chili? Of course! The beauty of gentle nutrition is that it can be applied to anything - including some of these past examples of pizza or French toast.
Remember, gentle nutrition is never an obligation. If it will impact your satisfaction of any eating experience in a negative way or you just don’t have the bandwidth to apply it at any given moment, that’s fine!
However, if you're up for learning about some ways to consider bringing in some ways to add instead of subtract to increase nutritional value to a bowl of chili, keep reading…
One way to add more nutrition can be to add more color. To a bowl of chili that may mean adding sweet potato or butternut squash, cauliflower, bell peppers or corn, which will all add additional fiber and some antioxidants. You can also always choose to eat more alongside the chili such as a favorite piece of fruit or a fruit salad to add more color as well! Thinking about color versus a focus on adding fruits or vegetables can sometimes feel safer as you are navigating your relationship to food.
Another way to increase nutrition can be to think of what food groups may be missing in a certain dish. For example, chili often contains good sources of protein such as a meat, meat alternative and/or beans, but might be lacking in carbohydrates. Could you serve the chili over a bowl of rice or pasta or with a side of cornbread?
Fat may also be lacking depending on the overall ingredients so adding some butter to the cornbread or pasta/rice or topping the chili with avocado could also be a great way to add in some additional fat for flavor and satiety.
Dairy can also be a great way to add in more nutrient density to a bowl of chili by adding options such as cheese or sour cream to the chili or drinking a glass of milk or a comparable dairy free option with the meal.
Hope this helps make your next bowl of chili all the more nourishing. Enjoy!
Comments