While white may go with everything in your closet, it’s all about the rainbow when it comes to your diet. Sadly, this is not a popular trend for a lot of Americans because they like things that are quick, cheap, and convenient. This means that Americans go for the center aisles of the grocery stores. When you enter the center aisles, you are entering a land of saturated fats, highly processed ingredients, hydrogenated oils, and added sugars, all of which are detrimental to your health.
What Color Is Your Diet?
The color of different foods can tell you a lot about the nutritional value. Each color has different nutrients that the body needs to function healthily. Eating a colorful, balanced diet can ensure that you get a wide variety of nutrients; thus the term, “Eat the rainbow.” This does not mean that you should open a bag of Skittles. It does mean that you should head to the produce section of the grocery store to load up on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Believe it or not, buying fresh fruits and vegetables is not as expensive as you may think. By eating more fruits and vegetables and lowering your meat, dairy, and processed food consumption, you’ll notice a drastic difference in your grocery bill. Did you know that vegetarians actually save more money than non-vegetarians? They focus on buying seasonal produce, which means that they are eating produce items that most people avoid.
Why You Shouldn’t Focus On One Color
When it comes to focusing on health and nutrition, expanding your horizons is beneficial because you won’t rely on one item for vitamins and minerals. The reality is that one vegetable or fruit cannot give you all the nutrients you need, especially if you are eating frozen meals and a lot of meat. Take a chance on new produce items because this is an effective way to eat the rainbow.
Certain colors can indicate specific nutrients. Yellow or orange produce (citrus, squash, bell peppers) tend to rich in vitamins A and C, while green vegetables (spinach, kale, avocados, asparagus, chard, & broccoli) tend to have an assortment of B vitamins, vitamin K, and omega-3 fatty acids. Purple produce items (eggplant, red cabbage, or grapes) are typically high in vitamins C and K.
It is important to experiment with eating new things. You can make a tropical fruit salad with papaya, pineapple, mangos, bananas, grapes, and pink grapefruit. Try a colorful coleslaw with shredded red and green cabbage, grated carrots, thinly sliced kohlrabi, and julienned red & yellow bell peppers. Get really colorful in the pan by sautéing red onions, carrots, corn, jicama, and broccoli with black beans. Go Greek by making a salad with kalamata olives, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, red onion, and artichoke hearts.
When you eat the rainbow, your meals will always be nutritious. This isn’t the cure to making you a super healthy person, but it is a huge step in the right direction. Start exercising a little each day in addition to making the plant-based switch. You’ll be amazed at how you can turn your life around with these simple changes.
