Sometimes when I go grocery shopping I like to look at the carts that other people are pushing around. Some carts are full of things in boxes, bags, packages and containers. Most of the stuff looks dry and colourless. Potato chips, cookies, cereal, milk, frozen pizza, and a bunch of other stuff is popular, with the only colourful thing being the bright orange on the boxes of Kraft Dinner.
It’s just as easy to fill the cart with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, but that isn’t how we have been conditioned to eat in this society. If you were born after 1970, it’s a certainty that you grew up with McDonald’s and Fruit Loops as constant companions.
Unfortunately, now we are seeing the repercussions. Heart disease is the number one killer and poor diet is a major contributor. Diabetes is common, and various cancers are striking seemingly younger people more than ever. The research is clear – a poor diet and lack of exercise are correlated with disease and early mortality.
Action – For today, really notice what colours of food you are eating. Bright artificial ones don’t count as being something desirable. Think along the lines of fruits and vegetables and see if you can get a wide variety of different hues into your meals.
Steps – If you always reach for white potatoes, try cooking with sweet potatoes or yams instead. The deep orange colour hints at the level of antioxidants they contain. Eat an orange and some butternut squash to continue with the orange theme.
You can enjoy deep purple grapes, red pomegranate seeds or beets, bright green kale, yellow peppers, papaya, and maybe some blueberries. Don’t completely shun white foods either. Cauliflower, turnips, and bananas are all full of vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
That’s how to work the rainbow into your daily meals without even trying too hard.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – Overly processed foods are mostly devoid of nutrients. If most of what you eat comes in a dried form, like potato chips, crackers, and packaged cereals, not only are you not giving yourself a source of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals but you are missing out on the hydration that fresh foods provide.
By eating a wide variety of colourful, fresh foods you can provide your body with everything it needs to function well. At the same time, it fills you up and keeps you from reaching for the things that are less than ideal.
Example – It’s easy to include a variety of colours in a morning smoothie, and it doesn’t need to be expensive. Frozen berries such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are affordable, widely available, and taste great. Blend them with a banana and enjoy a boost first thing in the morning.
When you begin to pay more attention to what you are eating, using colour as a guide, you can become aware of whether or not you are including enough healthy foods on a daily basis. A few small changes to your diet can make a world of difference and inspire you to continue to choose wisely. If an apple a day can keep the doctor away, it seems like a small thing to do now to save yourself grief in the future.