Variety is the spice of life. Switchings things up and tackling new adventures keeps your mind fresh and life interesting. You can apply this mantra to your meals at dinnertime.
Eating healthy is something many of us try to do. Plates full of protein, carbs and vegetables provide the vitamins and minerals you need to survive. So, how can you eat healthily and make your meals enjoyable? An excellent strategy is to add color to your plate. Here are seven creative ways to add color to your dishes.
Seasonings
Adding seasoning is the easiest way to make food more colorful. Herbs and spices enhance your dishes by adding sweet and savory sensations. They also improve the texture of your meals. For instance, salt tenderizes meat when cooked and makes it juicier. Seasonings also add wonderful colors to make your food more aesthetically pleasing.
One of the best seasonings for color is turmeric. Turmeric has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a healthy seasoning with its distinct orange color. You’ll often see it in Indian dishes and teas. Some colorful seasonings with mild flavors include parsley, paprika and black peppercorn.
Multicolored Grains
When you think of rice, you likely imagine two colors it comes in. After all, white and brown rice are the most conventional choices at the supermarket. However, there are other colors available that you may be unfamiliar with. For example, farms in northern Thailand grow purple rice and find health benefitsfrom it.
Grains like rice are an easy way to add color to your plate. Look for purple or tri-colored rice to find variety. You can also switch up the colors with quinoa, potatoes and more. Try roasting purple, yellow and blue potatoes for a delicious medley.
Rainbow Challenge
The average adult needs about two cups each of fruits and vegetables daily. Think about your typical breakfast, lunch and dinner plans. Reaching those quotas can be challenging. How can you achieve these recommendations? One strategy is to use the rainbow challenge.
Rainbows have seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Incorporating these colors into your plate makes fruit and vegetable intake easier. Try creating a rainbow chart with your family and making a game out of it. Who can get all seven colors first?
Following the rainbow makes your plate pretty and adds health benefits. For example, adding red foods like tomatoes and strawberries provides lycopene. This antioxidant fights carcinogens in your body and keeps you healthy.
Roasted Vegetables
Remember when you were a child, and your parents forced you to eat vegetables? Many people grew to like vegetables and repeated the cycle with their kids. Reasons for the vegetable disdain include the bland flavors and the odd textures. One way to make the vegetables taste better and add color is to roast them.
Roasted vegetables are simple and only require a few minutes to prep. Cut veggies like broccoli, onions, bell peppers, squash and more. Then coat them with olive oil and seasonings like salt and pepper. Roasting them in the oven brings out the best flavors and maintains the essential nutrients you need.
Homemade Salsa
Imagine you’re at a Mexican restaurant. What’s your favorite part of eating here? Many say it’s free chips and salsa while waiting for your food. Salsa has incredible flavors and enhances anything you put it on. You can use salsa for chips, eggs, burritos and more. It’s colorful, flavorful and healthy. How can you beat that?
Salsa comes in various ways. If you don’t like the store brand, try making it at home to add many colors. Homemade salsa only requires a few ingredients and a blender or food processor. The basics include tomatoes, jalapeños and onions. Add cilantro, lime, salt, chili powder and garlic from there. These ingredients combine to pack robust flavors and lovely colors on any dish.
Grilled Kebabs
Summertime means hot sun, swimming pools and backyard barbecues. These cookouts mean bringing out the big grill for tasty summertime delights. Cookouts typically mean burgers, hot dogs and juicy steaks. How can you add more color to your parties, even during a holiday celebration? One popular way is to use grilled kebabs.
Many people use grilled kebabs for dinner parties. You can make them all the same or customize them for each guest. Make your kebabs colorful by adding various fruits and vegetables to the sticks. For example, summertime pasta kebabs have cherry tomatoes, red onion, gnocchi and parsley for garnish. You’ve already knocked out at least three colors on your rainbow chart.
Smoothie Bowls
Fiber is essential to your daily diet, but it can be challenging to get your daily dose. Experts recommend at least 21g for womenand 30g for men daily. One way to increase your fiber intake is to eat more fruits. How can you eat more fruits without worrying about their spoiling? Try using frozen fruit to make smoothie bowls and add color to your diet.
Smoothie bowls are terrific because they’re healthy, and you can eat them anytime. You can meal prep them for breakfast, have them as a snack or eat a bowl for dessert.
Making a smoothie bowl requires only a few minutes of preparation and a blender. Blend your base with berries, Greek yogurt, milk and a banana. On top, you can add coconut flakes, fruit, granola, honey, chia seeds and anything else you wish. They’re customizable and terrific for adding color.
Cooking With All the Colors of the Rainbow
Eating healthy is a commendable way to approach dinnertime. However, it doesn’t have to be boring. Using color to diversify your plate makes your dishes taste better. Use these seven creative ways to add color to your meals.
