Have you ever seen a plate that looks so bland that it looks unhealthy and unappetizing? (I’ve seen a lot of airplane food.) How does that plate of food make you feel? I bet you don’t want to eat it! Now, how do you feel when you make your own colorful smoothie (bright red, green, or purple!) or see a salad that looks so pretty with so many colors? I bet you want to eat it!
Eating foods with a variety of color can really improve our health because many of those foods contain nutrients that we need to live a full, healthy life. Fruits and veggies include phytonutrients, compounds naturally found in these foods, that can help our bodies function at their best. These help build our immune systems, fight off disease, and keep our organs functioning highly. One way to meet the goals that you want in your healthy eating and to make sure you are getting essential vitamins, try eating by color!
The colors of fruits and vegetables correspond to which vitamins, minerals, and supplements are included. If you eat foods with vibrant colors, those vitamins and minerals are processed in your own body.
- Blue, purple: These foods are full of antioxidants, and they improve cell rejuvenation, healthy heart, and healthy blood vessels. Eat blackberries, plums, blueberries, red onions, and red cabbage.
- Orange: These foods contain carotene, which we learned as kids helps our eyesight. That’s because it converts carotene into Vitamin A. It also helps keep our bones strong and immune system healthy. Eat oranges (duh!), apricots, carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes.
- Green: We don’t eat our greens for nothing. There are cruciferous greens (crunchy) and leafy greens, and both help with eyesight, cancer prevention through toxin elimination, and dental health, among others. Eat artichokes, avocados, lettuce, asparagus, broccoli, bok choy, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, and spinach.
- Red: Many red foods contain lycopene, which is another nutrient you may know. Red foods support urinary tract health and can help prevent many cancers. Eat tomatoes, watermelon, red apples, raspberries, cranberries, and pink grapefruit.
I recommend grabbing a few different colored fruits and veggies and tossing them into a smoothie or juice. I love my recipe for a Mood-Stabilizing Smoothie . You should also try a colorful meal with some bright vegetables like Butternut Squash Soup or Roasted Root Vegetables.
Happy eating!
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