Produce A to Z

RainbowMake a rainbow on the bulletin board and include all the colors listed below or make a color of the week or the month. Hold a contest to see who can come up with the best recipe for each color.

“There’s Magic in the Rainbow” (not just at the end of the rainbow).It’s not really magic, but good science. The “magical properties” in fruits and vegetables.Using both the fruit and vegetable rainbow idea for variety selection and the “magic” properties of phytochemicals, fiber, caratonoids, etc. in fruits and vegetables.Then using ROYGBIV to relate to groups of fruits and vegetable.To get a healthy variety think a rainbow of colors.Colors of the rainbow Red—watermelon (lycopene), cabbage, cranberries, strawberries, tomatoesOrange—peaches, cantaloupe (vitamin A), winter squash, sweet potatoes, mango, carrotsYellow—corn, citrus, pineappleGreen—beans, honeydew melon, cabbage, avocado, broccoliBlue-blueberriesIndigo- purple plumsViolet-grapes (resveratrol), eggplant, plumsThe ABC of Eating More Fruits and Vegetables Have a contest to see who can think of the most ABC words for fruits and vegetables. Or post these on bulletin boards to remind people to get more fruits and veggies in their diets each week. Here is a list to get you started.A Antioxidants - substances in foods that can prevent or slow the oxidation or damage to the body’s cells; ApplesB Beta-Carotene; BeetsC Caratonoids; CarrotsD Dietary Fiber; DaikonsE Emphasize fruits and vegetables in your meals; Every day; Every mealF Flavonoids- found in soy, pomegranates and green teaG Greens- dark green leafy vegetables include collards; mustard, kale, Swiss chard, broccoli rabe and all are great sources of Vitamin CH Honeydew melons or healthy lifestyleI Isoflavonoids or immune defense; Interest - keep meals interesting by experimenting with new fruits and veggies each weekJ Jump on the fruits and vegetable bandwagonK Kiwi; Keep - keep fruits and vegetables on hand for fast and easy snacksL Lycopene- found in tomatoes and tomato products, may help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases; Lime, Lemon; Lettuce;M Mangos; Minerals; MelonsN Nectarines;O Oranges and Other citrus fruitsP Phytochemicals Q Quinoa is great in a salad with fresh chopped vegetablesR Resveratrol—found in grapes and red wine; Red peppers; Red cabbage; Blood red orangesS Strawberries T Tomatoes U You should eat five or more fruits and vegetables everydayV Vegetables or vitaminsW Watermelon—due to the rich red colors watermelons are high in lycopeneX Extra servings of fruits and vegetablesY Yellow fruits and vegetables –yellow pigments in fruits and vegetable contain luteinZ Zest—add zest to your meals using colorful fruits and vegetablesBy Cheryl Syracuse, MS.