Extol Sports June 2017 | Page 43

How It Has Worked For Us Overall, this has proved to be a fun way for our family to “adventure” into new tastes and recipes. Our crew loves to be involved and is definitely more enthusiastic about trying something new if they feel like they were included in the decision itself. We’ve found that making a list of “off limits” items is helpful in keeping our kiddos from choosing the same old apples and oranges. We haven’t always loved every piece of produce they’ve chosen, however. Once, when the assignment was “orange,” we came home with a horned melon that was met with less than enthusiastic taste buds. But, the kids enjoyed picking it out due to the crazy shape and texture of its appearance and, while we’ve never purchased one since, it was worth a try. Unlike the horned melon, some items have been much more of hit and we’ve discovered new recipes along the way that have become family favorites. With Color Comes Nutrients Now, we have four children. If we assign each a different color for a trip to the farmers market or grocery store, we’re going to end up with a variety of color in our shopping bag. Depending on the number of kiddos in your family, you may want to plan accordingly by assigning two colors to each or supplementing with options in other hues when filling your basket. It’s important not to stay monochromatic. A colorful plate of food not only looks beautiful; it’s usually packed with nutrients. (Not if it’s full of cupcakes, of course, but you get the drift.) Implementing a fun plan to put a variety of produce on your family’s plates is an ideal way to eat a rainbow of healthy foods. The colors in fruits and veggies are indicators of nutrition – and each color represents different vitamins and minerals. You can find a wealth of information concerning this topic, but we’ve included a basic list of produce colors and their nutritional value. RED = Lycopene; decreases the risk of heart disease and certain forms of cancer ORANGE = Beta-carotene; converts to Vitamin A and contributes to immune health YELLOW = Carotenoids; like orange foods, boosts immune health GREEN = Vitamins, Lutein, Zeaxanthin; strengthens bones, muscles, and brains and promotes healthy vision BLUE/PURPLE = Anthocyanins; improves cardiovascular health and prevents memory loss CrossFit LeanX Community GET STARTED WITH 2 WEEKS FREE! We hope your family will take a crack at its own version of The Color Game this growing season. This simple idea is an effective way to enjoy colorful, fresh produce in fun way while involving your kids in the process. Don’t forget to visit www. ExtolSports.com to check out the FamFitter newsletter. This e-post section is your quick link to great recipes, family tips and fun exercise ideas you can use to make your own family fitter. TM s t reng thing fam ilies from within 41 322 Mount Tabor Rd, New Albany www.fourbarrelcrossfit.com | 502.509.3801