In April 2010 I began a weight loss journey. I put it off as long as I possibly could, and then finally started Weight Watchers when I couldn’t stand how I felt and looked anymore. One of my biggest fears about a weight loss program was the thought that I would have to give up all my favourite foods and eat only things that were bland and dull.

This is why I love Weight Watchers. There is literally NOTHING that is NOT on the WW diet. As long as you work your points, you can eat anything. I’ve been out to The Keg and managed to stay within my daily points. I eat chocolate every single day (because, really, a day without chocolate is kind of a waste!).

I have also discovered that there are things I love that I never knew I loved. I have drastically cut down the amount of processed foods I eat, and I think that this has changed my taste buds. 9 months ago I hated sweet bell peppers. Now I’m a total sweet bell pepper addict. It’s a strange day if I don’t eat some pepper…I have even been known to chow down on them the way one would eat an apple.

I have a healthier relationship to food than I did 9 months ago. But just like anyone, I have foods I turn to for comfort. Right now, one of my favourite comfort foods is vegetarian chili. I love the taste and the texture. I love that I can put 1/3 cup of Kraft Tex Mex shredded cheese on top of it.

Today is a cold and somewhat gloomy day in Belleville, and My Mom has come down with a cold. Definitely time for some comfort food. So tonite was a veggie chili night in the Mitchell household.

People often ask me what my recipe is, but I don’t really have one. I buy a bunch of tins of beans (red kidney, chick peas, black eyed peas, black beans – whatever you like), a big bottle of salsa, a tin of refried beans, a packet of chili seasoning, a packet of fajita seasoning, a couple of tins of tomatoes (often the flavoured ones – garlic or black pepper or sweet onion). If I have some on hand, I chop up a couple of sweet peppers and and onion. Throw all of that into a crock pot and turn it on high for about 8 hrs (though you can probably eat it after 4 or 5).

That’s it. Best comfort food ever!