Healthy Bits · Nutrition & wellness
Eat the rainbow
Each color on your plate tends to signal a different family of phytonutrients, the natural plant compounds that give produce its color and many of its benefits. Red tomatoes and watermelon bring lycopene. Orange carrots and sweet potatoes bring beta-carotene. Purple berries and red cabbage bring anthocyanins, and leafy greens bring folate and lutein.
Eating a range of colors is a simple way to get a wider variety of antioxidants and fiber without counting a thing.
Try this: on your next grocery trip, pick one fruit or vegetable in a color you rarely buy. Or make it a game at dinner, especially with kids: how many colors can you fit on one plate?
- antioxidants
- greens
- fiber
- kids
Healthy Bits are for general education and aren’t medical advice. Check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing, take medication, or are managing a health condition.