If you need to eat healthy but want to enjoy a hearty meal, you can’t go wrong Chile.
“Chili is a relatively healthy dish with quality ingredients,” he says. Trista Vest, MPH, RD, LD and balance one supplement“Chile often beans, ground meat (beef or poultry), peppers, onions, and various other nutritious ingredients. ”
On paper, chili can go with most meals, but some home cooks prefer to fill this humble dish with fat- and salt-rich ingredients to create a new high-calorie diet. I’ve found a way to make it. I’m trying to find the perfect balance between delicious bowl of chili Dieting that doesn’t derail your health goals sounds daunting, but with the right knowledge, you can avoid some major nutritional pitfalls.
Eat this instead of that! We consulted a handful of registered dietitians to get the scoop on which chili ingredients you’ll want to avoid if you’re sticking to a healthy eating plan. It may sound like it, but you shouldn’t stop trying new recipes.If you need inspiration, try one of these 20 Best Healthy Chili Recipes for Weight Lossand you might even find your next favorite in this classic home-cooked meal.
cracker
If you need to add a crispy texture to your next bowl of chili, keep your hands off your favorite chili cracker“Salty crackers are a popular chili topping, but they are nutritionally problematic because they contain sodium and refined carbohydrates,” says Best.
Salty isn’t the only cracker to watch out for. “Oyster crackers are usually served with chili,” explains Best. “They are both highly processed and made with refined carbohydrates that are basically devoid of vitamins and fiber. All the beneficial ingredients found in whole grain crackers are missing from these forms. and may have inflammatory properties.
If you want an extra crunch on top of your chili but don’t want to use crackers, you can try a different kind of topping. “It’s an alternative,” says Best. “Finding low-sodium options for these alternatives can also help improve this area of concern.” You can enjoy it. sweet potato Or even Jicama for added vitamins and minerals. ”
bacon
bacon It has been criticized over the years for its high saturated fat and salt content. Any meal can be easily overloaded with fat, and chili is no exception.
“Bacon is high in saturated fat and high in sodium.” Olivia Sokolowska, MBA, RD and salted butter kitchen“Consider using turkey bacon or using other methods of seasoning or charred vegetables to add smokiness.” Skip the bacon crumble on top.
full fat sour cream
Even if you make a perfectly healthy chili pot, you can easily negate some of the benefits by throwing in unhealthy toppings. While we love a crusty chunk of sour cream to finish, this add-on can easily add too many calories and grams of fat to your meal.
If you like extra creaminess on top of this dish, don’t assume you can’t find a good substitute for sour cream. is recommended. sour cream It typically has about 50% less fat than full-fat sour cream, so you can enjoy the classic chili topping while saving calories. If you’re looking for a super-low-calorie option with stronger flavors, fat-free plain Greek he yogurt is a great substitute. ”
full fat cheese
The full-fat dairy topping promises to undo the hard work and full-fat generous sprinkles you put into making a bowl of healthy chili. cheese On top of this dish, you can add a ton of unwanted nutrition. Katie Tomaszko, MS, RDN, CDNand contributors sporty smile.
“I highly recommend using a low-fat cheese if you want your peppers to be healthier, as the saturated fat content will be much lower. Axing the cheese all together is a no-brainer if you like that.” Absolutely not, but exercise in moderation…mindfulness in adding it.”
If you do decide to top with cheese, make sure this dairy contains fat. It tastes and doesn’t melt well because it’s low in fat,” says Tomaszko.
Blend of store-bought spices and salts
anything is fine chili recipe It features many flavors. Many of these dishes require you to create your own blend of spices and seasonings at home, but some rely on store-bought blends of seasonings.
While you can usually adjust your homemade seasonings to keep them low in salt, “pre-made spice and seasoning blends can contribute unhealthy amounts of sodium,” says Tomaszko. “This is because they tend to ‘overdo it. ’ These spices range from garlic and onion salt to ready-made Cajun seasoning and chili seasoning packets.
To keep the saltiness of your peppers low, opt to skip this ingredient and make your own spice blend. You can supercharge your chili by solving the problem yourself.
