Turkey Chili

What a delicious dish that is easy to prepare and most of all healthy too! The benefits of using turkey are fewer calories, high-protein, lower cost and it is nutrient-rich. When purchasing the turkey at your local market check to make sure it is lean. Much like ground beef and chicken, there are varieties. One way to eat healthy is to choose leaner meat. With beef, chicken and turkey, the leaner it is, the less fat you will have in your dish. You can locate this percentage on the nutrition label.

Another tip is if someone in your family just refuses to eat turkey over beef you can cut the meat portion of the recipe in half and mix turkey and lean ground beef together. They may not even notice a difference. If that does not work you can substitute the turkey for the leanest ground beef and keep the chili healthy. Don't forget to get creative and add your own favorite ingredients, spices or flavors. You may end up with a new family recipe to share with others! I like to have fun when I am cooking by including family and friends, so feel free to modify this recipe to meet your personal taste.

Here are some food safety tips when handling turkey:

• Remember to use separate cutting boards for meat and fruit/vegetables.
• If you prepare the dish early remember to place it in the refrigerator. It's important to refrigerate foods and leftovers within two hours or less. This slows down bacterial growth. The best way to cool leftovers, such as chili is to divide the leftovers into shallow containers for quicker cooling.
• Defrost in the refrigerator versus counter tops and remember to place the meat on the lower level to prevent cross contamination.
  
  
  I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Cassandra Coleman