Eating Rainbows

Nutritionists tell us that a rainbow of colors offers balanced nutrition and it is fun to talk with kids about the food pyramid and how eating a variety of foods and different colors is healthy! To support that idea the new food pyramid has food groups represented by six different colors:

• Orange - grains
• Green - vegetables
• Red - fruits
• Yellow - oils
• Blue - milk products
• Purple - meats and beans
  

Foods from each group should be eaten daily because different colored food has different nutrients. For example:

• Red foods contain lycopene, which is known to reduce prostate cancer risk;
• Green foods contain antioxidants;
• Yellow and orange foods are rich in beta-carotene and strengthen our immune system;
• Blue & purple foods contain anthocyanins that may prevent heart disease; and
• White foods like garlic have anti-tumor properties.
  

What is cool about eating the rainbow is that you can try and find foods in different colors - orange tomatoes, yellow peppers, purple brocolli, which is usually easier at a farmer's market than your corner grocery store. Nine a day would be good, so get cooking!

Photo credit: sylvar