Eating the Rainbow

This past weekend, we celebrated Holi and Easter, two very colorful festivals that also mark new beginnings. With that in mind, we think it’s the perfect time to inject some more color into your eating habits and kickstart a healthier, more balanced diet! We’ve all heard the old cliché about eating our greens to stay healthy, but what we really should be doing is eating the rainbow.

All fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients that give them their color and certain special properties. We take a look at the different foods in each color group and what benefits they provide. As a bonus, we’ve picked out our favorite restaurant dish from each color group, and where you can find it!

Red: Tomatoes, red bell peppers, beetroot and watermelon contain nutrients like lycopene and resveratrol, which promote heart health and can greatly reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Veggiebuzzing Red Dish: Beetroot Salad at Bistrot Bagatelle.

Orange: If you’d like to get some more Vitamin C, oranges are a good place to start, along with carrots, pumpkins and papayas! They’re also packed with alpha carotene and Vitamin A, which are good for the eyes and can help to boost the immune system.

Veggiebuzzing Orange Dish: Pumpkin Butternut Curry at Busaba Eathai.

Yellow: Foods such as lemons, sweet potatoes, pineapples and corn are packed with beta carotene, potassium and Vitamin A, which help in maintaining healthy skin and good eyesight.

Veggiebuzzing Yellow Dish: Japanese Sweetcorn at Zuma.

Green: We all know how important greens are. Containing minerals like iron and calcium, leafy vegetables, avocados and kiwis are essential to a healthy diet. They can also lower cholesterol and aid in liver functions.

Veggiebuzzing Green Dish: Smashed Avocado at Crumble.

Blue/Purple: Eggplants, purple cauliflower and blueberries contain nutrients like folate and ellagic acid. They can to support the immune system, reduce risk of heart disease and increases antioxidant consumption.

Veggiebuzzing Purple Dish: Tofu, Aubergine & Shiitake Mushroom Claypot at Hakkasan.

White: Potatoes, cauliflower, white onions, garlic and mushrooms aren’t just the ingredients in a delicious stew! They’re also great sources of Vitamin C, allium and flavanoids, providing antibacterial benefits and boosting heart and bone health.

Veggiebuzzing White Dish: Cauliflower Salad at Bread Street Kitchen.