Color Coded: How to Judge Food on Appearance
By Genevieve Cunningham
We're always taught not to judge things based on appearance. Don't judge a book by its cover. It's what's on the inside that counts. You've heard these sayings, right? For the most part, these are true and are excellent pieces of advice to live by. But when it comes to food, appearance may help you out. Food comes with signs and warning labels. No, not the one on the box. Based on appearance, you can tell a lot about food and whether or not it's something you should be eating. If you need a cheat sheet to healthy eating, take a look at these color coded foods with a ton of nutrients and a powerful punch to your health.
Go Green
Green food is usually fairly healthy. You already knew this, right? Lettuce, kale, celery, spinach. These foods are low calorie but loaded with nutrients. By adding these to your diet, you'll get plenty of Vitamin C for the immune system, as well as fiber to keep digestion moving. If you don't have any green on your plate, this is a really good and easy way to start taking your diet in a healthy direction.
Choose Bold Red
Red foods are a little harder to come by than greens. But red foods can bring many benefits to your body. Many red foods lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of heart disease, encourage healthy cell development, and still provide numerous nutrients. If you need a little red on your plate, you can't go wrong with red bell pepper, tomato, beets, or strawberries.
Get Wild With Orange Foods
Orange is a wild and diverse color, and its food counterparts are no different. Orange foods are usually lower calorie, fibrous, and full of antioxidants. They are good for the bones, and as you probably already know, they're also good for keeping the eyes healthy. Looking for orange food? Choose orange bell peppers, carrots, pumpkin, or various kinds of citrus … including oranges!
Diet is one of the few places where it's OK to judge based on appearance. A colorful meal is usually healthier. Look for these colors on your plate, and if they’re not present, add them. With a quick glance, you can make your meal healthier and nutrient packed in no time at all.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Beaverton, Ore.