When watching cooking shows, have you ever wondered why chefs say try and add some color to your dish? Well, it isn’t just because it’s visually pleasing to the eye. Different colors of fruits and vegetables provide different nutrients that help various parts of the body. We want to challenge our providers to include a different colored fruit or vegetable in at least one meal or snack each day for an entire week as well as teaching the children which benefits each color represents. The children can even help pick out what they would like the fruit or vegetable of the day to be. Here are some examples of different fruits and vegetables and their health benefits.
Red - This color contains Lycopene. This helps with digestion and heart functions. Some red fruits and vegetables include but are not limited to apples, watermelon, red peppers, strawberries and tomatoes.
Orange - This color contains Carotenoids. This helps with your eyes and immune system. Some orange fruits and vegetables include but are not limited to carrots, pumpkins, oranges and peaches.
Yellow - This color contains Beta carotene. This helps with your skin as well as circulation. Some yellow fruits and vegetables include but are not limited to bananas, lemons, yellow pepper and pineapples.
Green - This color contains Chlorophyll. This helps your organs and cells. Some green fruits and vegetables include but are not limited to broccoli, lettuce, green peppers, kiwi and avocados.
Blue - This color contains Anthocyanins. This helps with your bones and brain. A blue fruit that contains this is blueberries.
Purple - This color also contains Anthocyanins, which helps with your brain and bones. Some purple fruits and vegetables include but are not limited to plums, grapes, eggplant and cabbage.
White - This color contains Anthoxanthins. This helps with your blood pressure and cholesterol. Some white fruits and vegetables include but are not limited to onions, mushrooms, garlic, cauliflower and jicama.
