I may not be the biggest football fan there ever was, but MAN do I like a good tailgate. Errrr, tailgate food.
Yes, hot diggity dawgs and hamburgers tend to steel the spotlight on game day, but lettuce not forget about all the other glorious options out there! Eleveate your tailgate with seven layer dip, chips and guacamole, spinach and artichoke dip, chili, and jalapeño poppers. Oh, and some beer. Maybe even beer in the chili, if you’re into that.
Just because it’s a by week here in Columbus doesn’t mean that tailgates are off limits! Lucky for you, Whole Foods Market stores nationwide will be grilling up a storm and sampling a bunch of non-GMO must-haves on Saturday, October 11th from 2pm-4pm. And why not snag a brewsky at The Social while you shop? I don’t hate it.
Let’s chat for a hot minute about GMOs. Other than OMG spelled backward, what the hell are they?! GMO stands for genetically modified organism, which is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using unnatural engineering techniques. Many crops are modified to survive herbicide treatment, produce their own pesticides and resist certain diseases. A whopping 70% of our packaged foods contain GMOs. Stores really can’t exclude GMOs because government regulations don’t currently require the disclosure of GMOs in food.
This topic is EXTREMELY debated in the media. Because I’m not in the mood to get anyone hot and bothered over it and because we all deserve to have our own opinions, I’ll just share my stance in a nutshell. I prefer my food to be non-GMO because I don’t believe it’s natural and we don’t know the long-term effects of their usage. Using them to feed certain populations in need is one thing and creating gigantic, flawless looking apples genetically altered be higher in antioxidants is another. I don’t want to buy fruits and vegetables with double the vitamins because of genetic modification. I like them just how they are.
For another awesome article on this topic, read this one. You can also learn more from the Non-GMO Project.
Get this—by 2018, all Whole Foods products containing GMOs will be labeled. Full transparency here, people! Whole Foods currently offers over 25,000 certified organic products and about 8,500 Non-GMO Project Verified products in their stores. To avoid GMO’s….
- Buy certified organic. The USDA National Organic Standards do not allow the use of GMOs.
- Choose Whole Food’s 365 Everyday Value® brand. Of note, all plant-derived ingredients are sourced to avoid GMOs; but if a product has meat, eggs or dairy ingredients, they could be from animals that were given GMO feed — unless the product is organic or Non-GMO Project Verified
- Look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal, which have been verified non-GMO by a 3rd party.
Whew! Can we talk about all the fabulosity in this chili now? It has PUMPKIN in it. And PUMPKIN PIE SPICE. Capital letters mean I’m EXCITED. No, this doesn’t taste like pumpkin pie. You’re more than welcome to gulp down a Pumpkin Pie Smoothie while you’re cooking if that’s what you’re going for. It has all those warm and fuzzy fall flavors, not to mention that it’s packed with fiber, protein, and antioxidants! You’ll feel much less guilty about the bucket of chicken wings you ate after a bowl full of this hearty goodness.
I pinky promise that this chili will totally get the stamp of approval from your carnivornous husband/boyfriend/cat/roommate/bestie. If you want to go all out, top it with a dash of hot sauce and some freshly grated cheddar cheese. If you have leftover spicy cashew mayo that’s dying to be used as a chili topper, that would be insanely unreal.
Consider this tailgate ELEVATED.
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A hearty and delicious vegetarian chili packed with fall flavor, perfect for football tailgates!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups sliced bell pepper (I used frozen 365 organic three pepper blend)
- 1–28oz can 365 organic* diced tomatoes (do not drain)
- 1–15oz can 365 organic pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1–15oz can 365 organic black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup 365 canned pumpkin
- 1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp oregano
- Dash of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Once hot, add diced onion. Sautee for 5-7 minutes and then add garlic and bell pepper. Sautee for another 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer (covered) for thirty minutes to an hour.
Notes
*365 is Whole Food’s house brand used for the purpose of this post. Any brand will work for this recipe.
Disclosure: Whole Foods Market Upper Arlington gave me a gift card to purchase the items used in this recipe. I was not compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
off topic but I totally read your menu for Alchemy and saw a cheeky spicy cashew mayo on that. Shiz needs to be bottled up and sold as healthy crack.
Hot sauce and cheese is NOT optional.
Alexis says
OMG. Let’s bottle it and call it healthy crack. It has a nice ring to it.
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Oh yeah, bring on the football food! This looks incredible. The husband would even love this–with the healthy dash of hot sauce on top of course. Great recipe!
Alexis says
I love the thought of adding hot sauce! Delish!
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
MMMM chili–it’s about that time of year again isn’t it? And though I’m the opposite of a hardcore football fan, I absolutely can appreciate football food.
Carly says
Holy chili wowza, this sounds/looks delicious. Thanks for the breakdown on GMOs, I know it’s a hot topic these days.
Thanks,
Carly
http://www.PlayingForEats.com
Alexis says
You’re very welcome! Enjoy, Carly!
Julia says
A dropped tailgate + beer + autumn-spiced veggie chili sounds most excellent!! I need never ending bowls of this!
GMOs…OMG, I’m glad to hear Whole Foods will be labeling everything so that it’s more evident what’s going on with what. Bravo, WF, bravo!!
Alexis says
I shoulda put beer in disssssss.
Danica @ It's Progression says
I feel the same way…football? meh. but Fall-time foods? yes please!
Alexis says
So glad that the feeling is mutual :)
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
YUM!! I am SO excited that chili season is back! I am excited to try your version :)
Alexis says
I know you’re a chili connoisseur, but I think you may just love this :)
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen says
Chili is hands down my favourite cold weather food. I pretty much make it all fall and winter long, so one of those times I’ll definitely have to give this recipe a whirl!
Alexis says
Me tooo!!! Now I just need to nail down a good cornbread recipe.
Erica {Coffee & Quinoa} says
I am prettttty thrilled that it’s chili season! And I love the idea of using pumpkin + pumpkin pie spice in here. Plus I obviously love Whole Foods :) This has my name all over it!
Alexis says
Me too my dear! As a Whole Foods lover, I command you to dive head first into this pot o’ chili.
She Rocks Fitness says
Well this just screams FALL and yes tailgate parties, when it is a little cooler! ;) Apparently I’m not getting your posts via email anymore and have no idea why…The blasphemy! Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS on Alchemy again! XOXO
Alexis says
Wahhhhhh what happened?! Thanks love!!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
pumpkin pie spice in the chili?? I could dive in head first!!
Alexis says
Yesss!! Dreams really do come true!!
dixya | food, pleasure, and health says
GMO = OMG for sure..its just so unfortunate that we live in a world where genetically modified things are cheaper and available than all natural stuff ..what happened to those days??? it really makes me angry to think about all these things. Although I dont do everything organic and GMO 100% of the time, it will be nice to have that transparency. GO Wholefoods!
kate // vegukate says
This looks SO good. You have me craving veggie chili now !!
Alexis says
I think that means you have to go make some :)
Tiffanie says
This was last night’s dinner and it was incredible! I substituted some spices wrong and it was a bit too spicy for my daughters, but they added a handful (or two) of shredded cheese and it was perfect. We all loved it!
★★★★★
Alexis says
Fabulous!! I’m so glad you and your family liked it!
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says
Well I’m late to the party but this looks amazing!! I’m adding this to a round-up I’m making for Lifehack if that’s okay! :)
Alexis says
Thanks my dear! That would be fab!
Natascha says
well, that really looks AMAZING but due to the fact that I live in Germany and only know “german” measurements I am kind of confused if it comes to “oz can”.. this really messes my head up :D
I am planning to make this food for my family on my birthday party and really want to make this. thanks in advance for helping me out here! :)
Alexis says
Hey there! “Oz” is an abbreviation for ounces, so maybe just look online for a conversation to whatever measurement you use over there? Not sure the can sizes! Hope that helps!