introduction | Add Colorful Fruits and Vegetables | Follow the Colors of MyPlate | How Else Can I Add More Color?

A balanced diet should include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy. Varying the color and foods in your diet will ensure that you are getting all of the nutrients that you need to stay healthy. There are two easy ways to do this:

Add Colorful Fruits and Vegetables

An easy way to add color to your diet is to include a variety of fruits and vegetables. Produce tastes best and has the most nutrients when it is in season, and most of these foods are low-calorie, low-fat, and low-sodium.

ColorFruitsVeggies
GreenAvocado, apples, grapes, honeydew, kiwiAsparagus, broccoli, green peppers, leafy greens
Orange and deep yellowApricot, cantaloupe, mango, pineappleCarrots, yellow pepper, sweet potatoes, butternut squash
Purple and blueBlackberries, blueberries, plums, raisinsEggplant, purple cabbage, purple-fleshed potato
RedCherries, cranberries, pomegranate, strawberriesBeets, red peppers, rhubarb, tomatoes
White, tan, and brownBanana, brown pear, dates, white peachesCauliflower, mushrooms, onions, turnips, white corn

Are you ready to brighten your next meal? Here are some quick tips!

ColorFood Ideas
Green
  • Add broccoli, spinach, or green peppers to pizza.
  • Add sliced apple to a salad.
Orange and deep yellow
  • Bake your own sweet potato fries.
  • Use yellow pepper instead of green pepper in recipes.
Purple and blue
  • Add blueberries to cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt.
Red
  • Add strawberries to cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt.
  • Add red peppers and tomatoes to an omelet or scrambled eggs.
White, tan, and brown
  • Add banana slices to a peanut butter sandwich.
  • Try mashed parsnips and/or turnips instead of mashed potatoes.

Follow the Colors of MyPlate

MyPyramid logoAnother way to vary the color in your diet is to use the colors of MyPlate as a guide for your food choices every day. Each food group in MyPlate corresponds to a color:

ColorFood GroupGoalHow to Reach Your GoalTips
OrangeGrainsVaries by age, gender, and amount of physical activityAt least half of your daily grain intake should come from whole grains.Look for labels that say “100% whole grain.”
GreenVegetablesAim for about 2½ cups per dayVegetables are organized into subgroups based on nutrient content, such as dark green, orange, dry beans and peas, and starchy veggies.Try to eat a variety of vegetables.
RedFruitsAim for about 2 cups per dayAny fruit or 100% fruit juice is considered part of fruit group.Try to eat a variety of fruit.
BlueDairyAim for about 3 cups (720 milliliters [ml]) per day.1 cup = 1 cup (240 ml) milk or yogurt, 1½ ounces (42 grams [g]) natural cheese, 2 ounces (56 g) processed cheeseMost dairy choices should be fat-free or low-fat.
PurpleProteinAim for 5-6 ounce (140-168 g) equivalents per day1 ounce equivalent = 1 ounce (28 g) meat, poultry, or fish; ¼ cup cooked dry beans; 1 tablespoon (15 ml) peanut butter; ½ ounce (14 g) nuts or seedsChoose lean protein foods.

If keeping track of the cups and ounces of foods you need to eat every day is confusing or difficult, focus on these four things when preparing a meal:

  1. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
  2. Make at least half your grains whole grains.
  3. Use fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
  4. Eat lean protein foods.

Remembering these things is easier than remembering measurements, and will ensure that you are getting the right amount of good foods in your diet every day.

How Else Can I Add More Color?