Rainbow Meal Planning
Registered Dietician
| 3 min read
In the U.S., only eight percent of children consume dark, leafy greens. Many children are tempted by sugary and carb-dense foods, rather than colorful produce that offers phytochemicals and antioxidants.
The nutrients found in fruits and vegetables are essential not only for developmental health, but to fight off disease and chronic conditions and help children establish lifelong, healthy habits. When looking for culinary inspiration this school year, use the colors of the rainbow as a guide.
- Red: apples, cherries, raspberries, red cabbage, red onion, red peppers, salsa, strawberries, tomato sauce and more.
Red foods contain lycopene, anthocyanins, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Lycopene is a strong antioxidant linked to reducing the risk of cancer. Specifically, tomatoes are said to fight the threat of heart disease and berries are linked to a lower risk of cancer, diabetes, inflammation and neurological diseases.
- Orange/Yellow: butternut squash, orange/yellow peppers, peaches, pineapples, sweet potatoes and more.
Orange foods contain beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin which supports healthy skin, hair and vision. It is also a phytonutrient that helps make vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is important for night vision and the vitamin C found in citrus fruits improves immune health. Yellow foods are also high in folate, supporting red blood cell functions.
- Green: avocados, bok choy, cabbage, collard greens, grapes, green beans, honeydew, kale, pears and more.
Green foods contain essential micronutrients like iron and their high fiber content lowers the glycemic index of foods eaten along with them. These foods also contain vitamin B for energy, vitamins C and E to fight off free radicals that promote disease and offer calcium for bone health. The alkaline found in green foods can also help reduce acidity.
- Blue/Purple: acai berries, beets, black beans, black rice, blueberries, blue corn, cranberries, eggplant, purple asparagus, purple cauliflower, raisins, red cabbage, red and purple grapes and more.
Blue and purple foods have high amounts of potassium, which help oxygen flow throughout the brain and body, which can help alleviate allergies and inflammation. The most unique benefits of blue and purple food is their ability to assist in preventing urinary tract infections, fight ulcers and prevent other diseases caused by cell damage.
- White/Brown: almonds, coconut, garbanzo beans, garlic, ginger, hummus, jicama, mushrooms, onions, pinto beans, potatoes, tofu and more.
Healthy, white foods include those that are tan or brown on the outside and white on the inside. One of the most common cancer-fighting antioxidants in white foods is called anthoxanthin. Garlic, ginger, onions and all allium vegetables also contain an antioxidant called allicin, shown to act as a natural antibiotic to help boost the immune system.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Photo Credit: The Awesome Lady
