What is TRUE Comfort?

Note: This recipe and Food for Thought are from my weekly meal plan.  To learn more and try it FREE for a month, go to www.nourishingnutrition.com.

This week, it started getting really cold at night – and cold weather really gets me in the mood for comfort foods. Through my many years of dieting, I “comforted” myself with foods, but they weren’t usually the kind that nourished me physically. So, while they would work in the short term providing instant gratification, they didn’t truly provide any REAL comfort since I wasn’t getting the “nourishment” I desired. Since then, I have redefined the word comfort for myself: True comfort means both eating delicious foods (in the moment benefit) and taking care of my physical health (long-term benefit). For example, when I eat the yam chili (recipe below), I get a comforting taste and feeling in the moment as well as a long-term benefit of true nourishment.

How about you? What is your favorite comfort food and how do you make it just a little healthier? I would love to hear your comments here and on my Facebook page!

Yam and Black Bean Chili

Serves 6

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Equipment needed: Soup pot

I think the combination of yams and black beans is truly magical.  They are perfect together!!!  You can FREEZE leftovers although the texture of the yam chunks may change a bit and wait to add the cilantro.

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 anaheim pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 garnet yams (1 1/2 lbs), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 28-can whole plum tomatoes

1 cup water or vegetable stock

2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves, washed and dried

Warm the oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the onion, pepper, garlic, and yam chunks. Saute, stirring often, until onions are soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with the back of a wooden spoon.  Add water or stock, beans, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder, bring to boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, or until yams are tender.  Stir in cilantro and serve.

Note: This recipe and Food for Thought are from my weekly meal plan.  To learn more and try it FREE for a month, go to www.nourishingnutrition.com.

Until Next Week, Eat Well, Be Well and LOVE Every Bite!

~Jennifer

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