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Lunch Box: Chili

When it's chilly outside, warm the kids up with some chili inside.

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Magic Beans

There are endless reasons why beans are good for you--here are just a few:

They are a great source of B vitamins as well as insoluble fiber which aids digestion.
Beans contain very little fat, zero cholesterol, and are packed with complex carbohydrates (those are the good ones--they are lower in calories and keep you full longer).
Beans have been known to lower the risk of colon cancer, lower blood pressure, help to manage diabetes, as well as amp up the body's immune system.

Did You Know?

The dictionary has it spelled C-H-I-L-I, but in New Mexico, it is spelled C-H-I-L-E.
Chili is the official state dish of Texas.
Chili peppers are packed with Vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that gives strength to the immune system.

What's for Lunch

If you've got a thermos, you've got half of what you need for a hot, hearty, and healthy kid's lunch.

Make a batch of chili ahead of time and then heat it up, spoon it in, and send it off to school with the little ones. Easy peasy, and it's good for them.

Ground turkey and black beans make for excellent sources of protein in this lunch, with the turkey providing a healthy alternative to the typical ground beef a chili recipe usually calls for. Pair it with a cornbread muffin, a piece of fruit, and low-fat milk or water, and your child will be full and happy come afternoon recess.

Lunch Box Logic

Make ahead: Make both the chili and corn muffins one or two days before. If you'd like your chili to keep longer, freeze in individual serving sizes (you can do this with the corn muffins too), pulling each serving out as you need them. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Make it hot, hot, hot: A plastic thermos will do the trick just fine, but a stainless steel one will keep the chili hot for the longest period of time, especially if you fill it with hot water first to heat up. Empty the water right before you spoon the chili in.
Make it fun: Pack a resealable bag with some shredded cheese for your child to top the chili with at lunchtime.