Eat All the Colors

One of the simplest ways to ensure a balanced, nutritious diet is to eat the rainbow, but what does that mean exactly?

In 1977 my diet as a 15-year-old was in line with many at that time. Variety, referred to how many different kid's cereals we had. Nutritious, meant as long as the package read, "fortified" it was good for me. And fresh meant our weekly night at McDonald's for a burger. 

Then my sister married a man who in one simple breakfast would introduce a path which led to a 30 plus year culinary career and a new understand of why we eat. His name is Michael and I happened to be asked to help him make an omelet the first morning I woke up in their home when I went to spend the summer with them in Montana. I did not know what an omelet was but I recognized the eggs. Besides that, I found very few other items he had on the counter familiar.

He had a tomato, bell pepper, green onion, corn, sunflower seeds and something that looked like a part of a small bush. He purposefully guided me through the items, how to cut them and why we were putting them in our breakfast. He told me to try to, "eat all the colors". He had a background in biology and explained that each color represented a micronutrient that the items would provide for our bodies. He also understood that I had no idea what that meant so he simplified it to telling me to just try to eat things of every color I can, and not referring to the color of the boxes they came in. . I never walked through the grocery store the same way. 

Today, I still follow that simple and accurate piece of advice, and at almost eighty years old now, so does he. I also have added eating all the locations, things from underground, ground level, bushes and trees. Variety feeds are bodies well. And we have never had so much access to such a variety of great foods. Next trip to the store shop for colors and let your creativity be challenged by what you buy. Your body will appreciate it as well as your mind. 

It's hard to create that balance for yourself, we can help make sure you're getting a balanced diet! Contact us today about what service could help you the most!