Simple Tips and Tricks to Eat the Rainbow

Many people have heard about the importance of “eating the rainbow” but don’t actually know what it means. To put it simply, fruits and vegetables are high in all different vitamins and minerals and the different colors of the produce actually reflect what they are high in. Did you know, red fruit and vegetables are good for memory and heart health? Or that orange/yellow produce is good for fighting off flu and colds and also helps with eyesight? I personally didn’t believe my grandmother when she told me this. Blue and purple produce assist with healthy aging and having a good memory. Truthfully, one color does not supercede another when it comes to produce, it is way more important to eat a variety of produce of all different colors.

Not sure how to get started? Here are some tips:
Think about what your plates look like for a meal, are you eating at least 3-4 different colored produce for that meal?
Are you eating different colors from day to day? If your whole week contains just green (or any singular color) vegetables, you may be lacking some key nutrients.
Is half of your plate plant-based and mostly fresh/frozen fruits and vegetables? By design, the more produce you eat, the more likely you are to eat different colors.
Have you tried something new this week? Exploring different in-season produce and finding new ones to add to your meals will allow for greater variety leading to more colors!
If you have never attempted to “eat the rainbow” create a goal for yourself this week and write it down. Whether it be to explore the produce section of your grocery store or to buy a vegetable you have never eaten, goal setting is a great way to remind ourselves that our health is always revolving and our goals should reflect that.

Wherever you are in your journey to finding balance in your life, small and simple steps towards your goal that are sustainable is the best way to achieve those long term goals. Making a goal to eat a more colorful diet with greater variety is a great goal to set for yourself.