Page 39 - Inspire Health March/April 2015
P. 39
COLOR
YOUR SENSES:hen you’re trying to live

Whealthfully, the food you eat is

PICK PRODUCEhalf the battle. Fried, fatty and sugary foods
Lettuce, he says, shouldn’t have brown
or wilted leaves.Although iceberg lettuce
was once the most popular choice, he says

are linked to an increased risk of obesity, AND FRUIT more people are opting for romaine, red
diabetes and heart disease. and green leaf varieties now.“Iceberg is the

Conversely, a diet high in fruits and WITH VIBRANT lowest in nutritional value, because it’s close
vegetables can lead to reduced blood to 100 percent water.”

pressure, lower cholesterol and better overall COLOR, When it comes to oranges, weight is
health. “People who eat more vegetables one of the best indicators.“A good orange

and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet are SMELL FOR should be heavy for its size,” he says.“That
likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic BEST HEALTH means it’s full of juice.”
diseases,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture
states on its website. BENEFITS Apples should be firm, not soft or
mushy. Choose bananas according to when
In fact, the USDA recommends that you’ll use them.“Greener ones will ripen

half of what’s on our plates should be slowly, but a ripe banana will become

fruits and vegetables. By: Patrick O’Donnell, Editor overripe very quick. Avoid brown spots —
Fresh produce is more flavorful and that’s usually bruising.”

has more nutrients than its frozen or When it comes to spuds, avoid any with

canned counterparts, but picking it out sprouts.“Choose potatoes that are firm,

can sometimes seem like more of an art also use your nose: “You can smell a good with no soft or dark spots, and pass over

than a science. strawberry — it will have a flavorful smell.” the green-tinged ones.”

Eric Schummer, co-owner of Valley Color can be an indicator for broccoli Potatoes do best when they’re stored

Farm Market in Bethlehem, says knowing and lettuce, too.“Broccoli should be real in a dry, cool, dark place.That doesn’t

what to look for is important. bright green.The floret should be closed, mean the refrigerator, though — it turns

For instance, a strawberry should be not open — if it’s open, you don’t want the starch to sugar. And keep them away

bright red.“Deep color is an indicator of that.” It would be fine for soup or stock, from onions:“The potatoes give off a

flavor,” he says,“but if they’ve still got a little Schummer says, but not if you’re going to gas that makes the onions go bad more

white on the tips, that’s OK.” You should use it in a vegetable tray or steam it for dinner. quickly,” Schummer says.
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