Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I wouldn't even know where to start to make chili without beans!

I even live in Texas, and I've never had any complainers. I use ground beef, chili beans, kidney beans, and lots of tomatoes and onions. It's spicy and delicious.

You know what I don't understand? People who like the chili from Wendy's. That stuff isn't flavorful or anything.

My current lunch consists of tuna salad combined with whole wheat rotini pasta, a peanut butter (natural) and jelly sandwich on 9 grain bread, a handful of chopped carrots and half of a Clif Builder's protein bar. I use non-fat mayo in the tuna salad. All-in-all, it's a pretty healthy lunch, low in bad fat, a moderate amount of good fat, lots of whole grain and a decent amount of protein. I need more ruffage, but I'm working on that!

I usually make my lunch in the morning. Usually I make sandwiches and pack fruit. Today I packed pita with hummus and a banana that unfortunately exploded in my handbag.

i am hungriest at lunchtime. i can see why spaniards and italians eat big during the day and then siesta time. wish we americans had siesta. i work near a lot of great restaurants so a few times a week i bop over to taim, via emilia or pio maya--i find if i eat a big lunch i'll only eat edamame or crackers or something small for dinner. if i pack a lunch it's usually leftovers-- today thai red curry and a salad or sometimes i'll buy a baguette on the way to the subway and bring a tomato, some brie and some salami with me.

I've always used beans, they stretch the chili a little farther, I think. I definitely am not a fan of chili made with things like chocolate or sugar or cinnamon. The chili my family loves is pretty much like the chili you would find in a school cafeteria: ground beef, minced garlic, chopped onions, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, sea salt, fresh pepper, dash of oregano and a dash of cayenne pepper. I know....it horrifies chili aficionados! But it tastes good and makes some really frito pies the next day!

lunch for me is the most boring, non-creative meal of the day. a half a whole wheat sandwich piled with lunchmeat. and that's it. i also eat breakfast at work, which is Kashi oatmeal with vanilla soymilk. midmorning i have some yogurt. then in the afternoon after lunch i have a protein bar.

i can see i need to add some veggies and fruit to this! but the simplicity of it is the only way to keep me from ordering delivery with coworkers (unhealthy and tempting options like thai, chinese, mexican, carribean, burgers, etc). i'm inspired by this post and i think i will try to cook up some mixed veggies that i like and season them how i do, and then portion those out throughout the week. and maybe i can add fruit to my breakfast.

www.lanaberry.com