Healthy Eating

Adding more colors to your meals.

Fruits and vegetables provide important health benefits. It is important to encourage your children to eat healthy, from an early age. One of the ways to do this is by incorporating more “color” into their meals, in order to create a healthy and balanced diet.

Colors that not only make your plate look pretty, but carry some health benefits as well.

• Reds: Strawberries, tomatoes, beets, red peppers, radicchio, red onions, kidney beans. The red color comes from powerful antioxidants that may fight heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, etc.
• Blues and purples: Blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, black currants, purple figs, plums, eggplant, purple endives. They’re packed with nutrients that may protect your heart and your memory. They also may fight cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Yellows and oranges: Melons, cantaloupe, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, tangerines, carrots, rutabagas, summer squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, corn. They provide vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E, as well as, folate and bioflavonoids and help with a healthy immune system, strong bones and good vision.
• Greens: Broccoli, avocados, Brussels sprouts, green beans, spinach, peas, snap peas. These provide folate, minerals and fiber.
• Whites: Garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, cauliflower, shallots, bananas, pears, mushrooms, parsnips, potatoes, turnips. Eating these may help protect you from infections and they may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.