Eat an Artwork Everyday
Torey Foss
T
here is art in everything we do in life- our bodies included. Therefore, everything we put
into them should embody and enhance it. There is a reason that we find a colorful plate of
food beautiful. The vibrant colors we see in a healthy meal draws us in. Every color naturally
occurring in food gives us a different nutrient and vitamin- called phytochemicals, which
inherently bring us to that which our bodies need and crave. According to Susan KasikMiller, MS, RD, CNSC, a clinical dietitian at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wis,
“Plant products are sources of phytochemicals of which there are thousands that have been
identified.” The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) explains further that multiple
phytochemicals can be found in any one plant, and these are essential for purposes such as
protection and regeneration of the body, as well as acting as antioxidants.
Every time you sit down to eat, the colors on your plate should jump out at you, and when you
make a list of all the foods that you have consumed in a day, it should form a rainbow- filling
your body with all the nutrients and nourishment it needs. Unfortunately, for many people,
this is far from the norm. The average meal consumed by humans nowadays is predominantly
beige or made up of artificial coloring, which, according to Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD,
Co-author of What Color Is Your Diet? is as a result of food preferences being based on cost,
taste, and level of convenience. However, a diet which is predominantly ‘beige/brown” or
filled with unnatural colorants will leave your body significantly at a loss of the nutrients it
needs to function optimally, and will, therefore, have long-term negative repercussions.
How can we ensure that we are getting these nutrients in our bodies every day? By creating an
artwork and counting colors. Juliann Schaeffer, in Today’s Dietician, divided the food groups
into the colors Blue/Purple, Green, Yellow/Green, Yellow/Orange, and Red.
Purple/Blue: nutrient contentpredominantly anthocyanin.
This color group is particularly important
for helping prevent heart disease through
its ability to reduce the risk of blood clots,
says Gloria Tsang, RD, editor-in-chief of
HealthCastle.com. Types of foods that you
could use for this are blueberries, plums/
prunes, black grapes/raisins, aubergine, and
blackberries. These foods are perfect for
snacking on to get your blue’s off the day!
Green: predominantly chlorophyll.
This pigment found in green plants breaks
down carcinogenic compounds through
inducing enzyme production in the liver,
according to the PBH. Types of foods
that you could eat to give you these vital
nutrients are broccoli, zucchini, Brussels
sprouts, or cabbage. They are also a great
source of fiber and are good to pair with a
sit-down meal.