Take Your Food Choices Over the Rainbow
Do you eat pretty much the same thing from day to day? A lot of people do. Sometimes it is just easier. It's easier to shop, it's easier to prepare, and repetition is comforting. But the fact is, it is just not good for you. Don't be in a rut. It's time to upset your applecart!A great way to choose your foods is to think of your food choices as a palette of color. You want to eat a rainbow of food. When you go to the grocery store and when you fill your plate, look for color, contrast, and vibrancy. Keep a bowl of fresh, colorful fruit in your kitchen so that you will always have a healthy snack on hand. Don't just go for apples and oranges; although they are great. Try something with a little pizzazz. Go for papaya, mango, fresh tomatoes with a shake of cumin, pineapple, red and green bell pepper strips, carrots and celery dipped in balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. By giving yourself interesting, colorful variety, you are far more likely to address your nutritional needs through the foods you eat.
Be sure to get a variety of vegetables in a variety of colors, textures, and flavors. Fresh spinach and broccoli are excellent sources of iron and calcium. Be sure to add orange vegetables like carrots, squash, and even unusual choices like pumpkin! Eat vegetables in season to be sure of getting the freshest choices. By choosing in season, you also find ways of celebrating the seasons. This adds another dimension of enjoyment to eating.
Remember that beans and legumes are a colorful part of your veggie palette. Black, red and green beans make a lovely cold salad mixed together. They bring color to any plate alone too. Unusual vegetables like beets and turnips get the short shrift these days. Try adding them to your diet. You will be surprised to find how good they are raw or cooked. Remember to add cabbage, kale and other rich flavorful leaf veggies to your plate.
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