Who could forget TLC, one of the most popular groups in the 90s? The all female group, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, made hits that empowered women and transformed music. Songs like “Creep,” “Waterfalls,” and “No Scrubs” helped solidify their sound on the airways. And their beautiful, youthful look helped embed them in the minds of young men everywhere. One-third of group sensation, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, shares her passion for cooking and how she learned to bring a little “TLC” into the kitchen.
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Chilli was a celebrity contestant for the second season of “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off” on the Food Network. She had a chance to display her cooking skills on the competition show that features celebrities cooking their way through challenges for a chance to win the title of Cook-Off Champion and $50,000 for their chosen charity.
Although Chilli didn’t win the cash donation for her Chilli’s Crew Charity, she enjoyed the experience. “It opened me up to more recipes and different seasonings and different ways to cook stuff. It was fun and frustrating because you are in competition with the other team and you are in competition with each other. So that was very different! Being able to meet Guy and the fact that we are friends now, I can call him up and ask him about any recipe. I have him on speed dial,” she shares laughing.
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“He was just amazing and always had the best attitude, he was really sweet. Even though he cooks better than us, he was open to the things we had to say. Which I thought was very good,” says Chilli.
Some may think just because of Chilli’s superstar look that she’s not the kind of woman who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, but this Southern belle, who was born and raised in Atlanta, is no stranger to cooking.
“I do spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It’s my favorite place to hang out.” Her Big Mama taught her how to cook at a young age. “I started cooking in the third grade, making little simple things like pigs in a blanket and mini pizzas from biscuits.”
Chilli describes her style of cooking as healthy soul food, but don’t look for her to give out recipes because she doesn’t stick to instructions. “The only time I stick to instructions is if certain foods require you to go by the book, like when you are making certain cakes and stuff like that. Usually I cook by taste. That’s why I can’t really give out my recipes because I don’t measure. I do it by taste. I like cooking soul food the best. That’s my favorite food to eat, healthy soul food.”
Chilli knows firsthand about the importance of her diet when it comes to staying lean and giving your body the best nutrition you can find. “I don’t eat pork and I’m not eating lamb. I don’t want to add on any meats because our bodies have a hard time digesting it anyway. So I don’t want to incorporate more meat into my diet besides chicken and turkey. I will eat beef occasionally but it’s not in my everyday diet.” Chilli has been involved in health and fitness most of her life and it shows.
Now at the age of 42, Chilli says she is in the best shape of her life and gives most of the credit to the fitness conglomerate, Beachbody. She has decided to become a certified Beachbody coach so she can have a bigger impact on the obesity epidemic in her community. “I don’t go to a gym. I have a gym in my house, but I don’t like the gym as much as I like doing the DVDs. So that’s how I got involved with Beachbody. I feel like I am doing it with someone and that I have an instructor. I like that and it works out better for me.”
For more fitness information, visit Energetics.
