I love to cook. In the spring and summer, I like to try out different salads. In the fall and winter months, my kitchen is brimming with bubbling pots of soups and stews. So today, with a dusting of snow on the ground and football on the TV, it seemed like the perfect day to make chili.

Ever since I was diagnosed with diabetes--and especially now that I'm that I'm trying to lose weight--healthy cooking has become a priority. I've learned a few tricks for keeping full on the fewest calories and carbs, like drinking lots of water, substituting a relaxing cup tea for dessert and filling up on lots of veggies.

In general, non-starchy veggies (like carrots, peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, etc.) have just 5 grams of carbs and 25 calories per 1/2 cup serving (or 1 cup serving for leafy veggies, like lettuce), and, of course, lots of fiber and other nutrients. And on most diet plans, they're considered "free" foods. Add enough of these gems and you can practically double your portion size without doubling the calories.

Needless to say, my chili recipe is packed with veggies, six of them to be exact: tomatoes, onions, peppers, carrots, zucchini and mushrooms. I don't know exactly how many calories or carbs are in it, one of these days I'll sign up for a recipe analysis program, but in the meantime, here's my recipe:

Ingredients

1.3 pounds of ground turkey (93 percent lean)
2 medium onions, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 medium carrots, diced
4 small zucchinis, diced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
2, 14.5 ounce cans of diced tomatoes
2, 16 ounce cans of kidney beans, rinsed
Wick Fowler's Two-Alarm Chili Kit

Directions

Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray and brown turkey over medium-high heat. Steam carrots and zucchini in the microwave (by either using a microwave steaming bag like Ziploc's new Zip 'n Steam bags or a microwave-safe covered bowl). Once turkey is browned, transfer to a very large pot and cook onions, peppers and mushrooms in the skillet. As the veggies cook, add them to the pot, along with tomatoes and beans. Add the chili seasonings, omitting the salt or salting to taste and saving the masa flour packet for later. Simmer for 30 minutes or more. Stir flour packet into 1/4 cup warm water and add to chili. Simmer another 15 to 20 minutes.

Top with low-fat sharp cheddar cheese and enjoy with whole wheat crackers (like Barbara's Bakery Wheatines. Enjoy!