Can you eat more than 20 different foods in one meal?
Yes, you CAN!
If you’re struggling to get enough variety in your diet, here’s a simple way to do it. Find out why you should add variety here.
And no, you don’t need any special skills!
No, you don’t have to follow long, complicated recipes!
And you don’t need a lot of time to prepare everything either!
But what you need is a well-stocked refrigerator and cupboards.
A little cutting and arranging.
A little imagination and enthusiasm.
And there you have it! You have a rainbow platter worthy of guests. Even if you don’t need guests to do this, just treat yourself and your family to a fabulously colorful and delicious meal.
Here’s what I did the other night:
- First, I cut up 3 different types of tomatoes – one yellow and two red, small and large varieties (when you choose different varieties and colors of the same food, they all count individually towards your variety score). Arrange them in a bowl, add salt, EVOO, balsamic vinegar, passion fruit, as well as mint and basil.
- I sautéed some shiitake mushrooms and while they were on the stove, I chopped a cucumber, a red pepper and a dragon fruit (not from the country!), and added them to a dish with some lettuce leaves.
- I opened a jar of pickles and another of olives and put some on the tray.
- 3 types of cheese were also released as well as a GF baguette and homemade seed crackers.
- I placed canned sardines (in olive oil and lemon) on a bed of avocado with salt and EVOO.
- There was a jar of store-bought hummus in the fridge, so I added a pinch of smoked paprika on top to serve with everything.
It was a delicious, interesting and filling meal containing proteins and carbohydrates, beneficial plant compounds, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotic bacteria, vitamins and minerals. But most importantly, there was lots of variety – I think I counted over 20 different foods, most containing amazing prebiotic compounds to feed gut microbes – flavors, textures and contrasts – all of which made eating enjoyable. . And the colors shone and my plate looked beautiful, which always helps.
Enjoying your food is a prerequisite for healthy eating behavior. No one wants to eat foods that don’t bring real pleasure! And eating healthy foods begrudgingly just for the health benefits won’t even give you the same benefits as when you enjoy them, nor is it sustainable because you’ll feel like you’re missing something (what you’re missing is the pleasure).
And it definitely delivers all of the above, including fun!
I hope this gives you a little inspiration on how easy it can be to add variety to your meals. Think of the British classic Plowman’s Lunch, just bring it into the 21st century by making it sexier, more varied and more colorful! Choose what you have on hand, you don’t have to have what I had, just make your own vision, trading with whatever is available to you.
And give free rein to your creativity! Enjoy your food!
Get more meal inspiration by downloading my Effortlessly Healthy eBook here and joining my Facebook group Healthy You – For Life.
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