Why You Should Eat Rainbows

Eating Rainbows means consuming an abundance of fruits and vegetables. The principle idea is to maximize your health by eating a wide variety of colorful foods -- Skittles and M&Ms don’t count. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all of the information about diet and nutrition available on the web, in bookstores and from health experts. One of the things that I have learned as a physician about human nature is that if something is complicated, most people will not do it or will give up after a while.

I am a big fan of the 80/20 rule which posits that 20% of what you do gets you 80% of the results. Applied to eating healthy, 2 out of 10 things you need to know or do will get you most of the results. The 2 most important things for eating healthy are 1) eating mostly rainbows (fruits and vegetables) and 2) minimizing foods that are not rainbows.

Eating healthy should not be complicated. Many of my patients who are diagnosed with diabetes get bombarded with information about how to eat correctly for diabetes. I hear comments like, “I heard that I should not eat carrots because they have too many carbohydrates.” Then I review their diet and discover that they are eating “diabetic cookies” and steak because these foods are low in carbohydrates. Eating right for diabetes is not just about reducing carbohydrates. Similarly, eating healthy is not about reducing calories or following fad diets. I try to help my patients focus on very simple principles to improve their nutrition.

To eat healthy, you should apply the KISS philosophy -- Keep It Simple, Silly. In other words, make eating healthy as simple and automatic as possible. This is how the concept of Eating Rainbows can make a real difference for you. You simply need to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in each meal. The more of your plate that is covered in Rainbows, the healthier your meal will be. Apply the 80/20 rule to your plate. 80% of your plate should be Rainbows leaving only 20% for other foods like meats and desserts.

There are 4 reasons why you should Eat Rainbows.

1. Fruits and vegetables are low calorie. If you fill up on your favorite Rainbow foods, you will not be as tempted to eat foods that are high calorie and unhealthy. Low calorie foods will help you to maintain a healthier weight.
2. Fruits and vegetables are filled with vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and many other natural substances that make your healthier.
3. Diets that are high in fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce the risk of developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
4. Eating mostly fruits and vegetables makes you feel better. You will have more energy, sleep better and even think more clearly when you are Eating Rainbows.

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