Nutrition is an important part of anyone’s life — especially as we age and want to keep feeling and operating our best for years to come! Here at Westminster Point Pleasant, your trusted continuing care retirement community in Bradenton, FL, we prioritize nutrition as one of the eight pillars of our My W Life wellness program.
We’re always on hand to help you guide your nutritional goals — but if you want a head-start, here’s a handy rule of thumb: Eat the rainbow!
Yes, as it turns out, eating a variety of colors throughout your meals — from vibrant red strawberries and tomatoes, to deep purple plums and eggplants, and every shade in between — can help you maximize your diet with diverse, delicious nutrients. Wondering how? Just read on to learn more about the myriad benefits of eating the rainbow!
Feel-Good Phytonutrients
All fruit and veggies have various health benefits to feel good about — but did you know that the beautiful colors of produce each represent different properties?
According to Harvard Health, red means lycopene: a carotenoid that protects your cells and tissues from free radicals. That means tomatoes, red onions, watermelon, raspberries… the list goes on and on!
Meanwhile, the cryptothanxin in orange and yellow foods can promote heart health; greens work against cancer-causing compounds; and blues and purples are packed with antioxidants that slow your cells from aging. And, yes, even white and brown produce (think onions, garlic, and mushrooms) have their unique perks.
Reach Your Weekly 30
According to the American Gut Study, people who eat more than 30 or more plant foods a week have a more diverse microbiome — which helps promote overall health and immunity! This number may seem daunting at first, but that’s where eating the rainbow may be able to help — turning the “weekly challenge” into a colorful game instead of a chore to check off your list. After all, it’s a lot easier to reach 30 plant sources when you’re incorporating foods from every color of the rainbow. (And even if you don’t reach 30 exactly, you’ll still get really close. Hey, nutrition is not an all-or-nothing game!)
Find A New Favorite
Ultimately, eating the rainbow encourages you to be a more curious eater — which is a fundamental part of being a foodie! It’s so easy for us to get caught up in busy, fun-filled days that we tend to reach for familiar favorites instead of branching out and trying something new. But by mindfully eating the rainbow, you might find yourself discovering new flavors and entire color groups you never thought about too much before — making new meal memories in the process. Fortunately, Westminster Point Pleasant’s on-site dining opportunities make it easy to try new fruits and veggies with ease.
Craving something colorful? Whether you dine in with Westminster Point Pleasant for restaurant-style breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or put together a vibrant spread of your own, eating the rainbow helps promote feel-good health in more ways than one. Not to mention — it’s delicious! We hope that today’s guide helps you maximize your nutrition one cheery hue at a time.
