Spicing Up American Heart Month: A Chili Cookoff for a Cause
February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease, promote heart health, and inspire healthy habits. What better way to bring a team together for a meaningful cause than with a fun, fiery event that combines good food and goodwill? This February, our company hosted a chili cookoff to celebrate American Heart Month and promote cardiovascular health in a deliciously memorable way.
A Heartwarming Competition
Chili, with its rich flavors and variety of ingredients, is the perfect dish to spark some friendly competition. For our chili cookoff, employees from across departments showed off their culinary skills, creating unique chili recipes that ranged from mild and savory to spicy and bold by incorporating heart-boosting ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, and peppers. This emphasis on healthier options was our way of raising awareness about making heart-healthy choices in everyday meals.
Judging the Heart-Healthy Chili Creations
The judging panel, consisting of employees from various departments, was tasked with tasting each entry and scoring based on taste, creativity, and the use of heart-healthy ingredients. Employees voted for their favorite chili by writing the numbers of their top three favorite chilis and slipping it into a voting box.
Why a Chili Cookoff?
Hosting a chili cookoff was more than just an opportunity to have fun in the office; it was a creative way to engage employees in a cause close to home. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but many of the factors that contribute to heart disease—such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity—are preventable with healthier lifestyle choices. Our chili cookoff served as a reminder that we can all make small changes to improve our heart health while still enjoying delicious food.
Moreover, the event was a chance for employees to connect outside their typical work roles. By collaborating in teams, cheering on the competitors, and sharing tips for healthy cooking, everyone came together to promote wellness and support the larger message of American Heart Month.
Heartfelt Winners and Takeaways
Our winner of the 2025 Deltapalooza+ Chili Cookoff is Noah Bleibtreu with Chili #7!
Here is his spicy and flavorful beef chili recipe if you want to recreate this heart healthy dish at home:
Spicy Beef Chili
3 lb beef roast – cut and cubed small
1 lb 80/20 ground beef
2 red bell peppers chopped
2 medium yellow onions chopped
5 cloves garlic
1 can tomato paste
1 large can 28 oz fire roasted crushed tomatoes
1 box chicken or beef stock 32 oz
Spices to taste:
Cumin
Chili Pepper
Dried Habanero Pepper Flakes- pinch
Cayenne Pepper
Black Pepper
Smoked Paprika
Salt
Instructions:
Add all ingredients into your crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours (timing may vary based on your crockpot).
Congratulations to Noah Bleibtreu, as well as our runner up Alice Kriegsfeld, and third place winner David Orsini. For all who participated, it was a reminder that heart health is about balance. Whether you’re enjoying a bowl of chili, taking a brisk walk, or just choosing healthier ingredients, every positive step counts.
So, here’s to good health, friendly competition, and spicing up the month of February with a cause that really matters—because when it comes to your heart, every little bit helps!
Let’s keep the momentum going and remember: healthy choices can be fun, tasty, and rewarding for everyone.
Happy American Heart Month!
