It is common for American families to visit farmers' markets in the summer and fall seasons to purchase some of the freshest fruits and vegetables available. But how can you ensure a colorful plate on your table during the winter and spring months when produce is not as plentiful? And nobody can deny that fruits and vegetables are important in maintaining a healthy diet.
So if you're up to the color challenge, the best place to start would be the freezer. You can purchase pineapple chunks, cubed melon, frozen spinach and frozen berries, among others any time regardless of the season. One particularly convenient choice is the aforementioned frozen spinach - after washing and cutting it, just toss it into your pasta dish or soup and voila - instant nutrition! Yes, it's that convenient to use spinach while letting it add color.
Next, stop in the canned fruit and vegetable aisle. Recent research indicates that canned fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as if you would buy them fresh and frozen. The canning process does not affect the amount of fiber in fruits and vegetables. You'll want to focus on orange fruits and veggies such as canned pumpkin, carrots and apricots, as all of these contain high amounts of Vitamin A. You may be surprised that canned pumpkin trumps freshly cooked pumpkin in terms of Vitamin A due to higher concentration and less water content.
Make the cereal section the last part of your grocery shopping. It's a good thing that freeze drying techniques now exist in order for cereal manufacturers to add fruit to their cereal without much of a hassle. A bowl of cereal and fruit is a great way to brighten up breakfast. Top with sliced banana, slivers of dried apricots or a medley of dried berries. And when it comes to dried fruit, fiber and potassium are thankfully retained despite its concentrated form.
But there's more - let us end this article by discussing some of the quickest ways to add color to your plate.
Toss sliced radicchio, red onion and yellow peppers into a green salad.
You may have your own ideas for the frozen spinach we discussed earlier, but we suggest topping it off with some sliced onion, pine nuts and gold-colored raisins (not the black ones) and some olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
One unusual and delicious way you can add flavor to your cereal would be by simmering yellow and red pears and/or apples, maple syrup and apple cider, waiting till soft, then topping with the cereal. Crrrrunchy - and nutritious!
Add frozen mixed vegetables to your favorite soup.
So if you're up to the color challenge, the best place to start would be the freezer. You can purchase pineapple chunks, cubed melon, frozen spinach and frozen berries, among others any time regardless of the season. One particularly convenient choice is the aforementioned frozen spinach - after washing and cutting it, just toss it into your pasta dish or soup and voila - instant nutrition! Yes, it's that convenient to use spinach while letting it add color.
Next, stop in the canned fruit and vegetable aisle. Recent research indicates that canned fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as if you would buy them fresh and frozen. The canning process does not affect the amount of fiber in fruits and vegetables. You'll want to focus on orange fruits and veggies such as canned pumpkin, carrots and apricots, as all of these contain high amounts of Vitamin A. You may be surprised that canned pumpkin trumps freshly cooked pumpkin in terms of Vitamin A due to higher concentration and less water content.
Make the cereal section the last part of your grocery shopping. It's a good thing that freeze drying techniques now exist in order for cereal manufacturers to add fruit to their cereal without much of a hassle. A bowl of cereal and fruit is a great way to brighten up breakfast. Top with sliced banana, slivers of dried apricots or a medley of dried berries. And when it comes to dried fruit, fiber and potassium are thankfully retained despite its concentrated form.
But there's more - let us end this article by discussing some of the quickest ways to add color to your plate.
Toss sliced radicchio, red onion and yellow peppers into a green salad.
You may have your own ideas for the frozen spinach we discussed earlier, but we suggest topping it off with some sliced onion, pine nuts and gold-colored raisins (not the black ones) and some olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
One unusual and delicious way you can add flavor to your cereal would be by simmering yellow and red pears and/or apples, maple syrup and apple cider, waiting till soft, then topping with the cereal. Crrrrunchy - and nutritious!
Add frozen mixed vegetables to your favorite soup.
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