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The festival of colours, Holi, holds great cultural and religious significance in India. It commemorates the triumph of good over evil, as symbolised by the annihilation of the demonic figure Holika. The festival teaches us that no matter how powerful evil may seem, it can always be overcome by the power of good and the faith we have in the divine.
Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and excitement all over India, with people coming together to throw coloured powder and water at each other, dance to traditional music, and indulge in delicious sweets and snacks like gujiya, thandai, bhajias, and more. While we love to splash colours on our loved ones, why not also celebrate with naturally coloured foods that are healthy for us? Wouldn't it be interesting to eat from a plate that looks like a rainbow and comprises food preparations made with veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, and other healthy ingredients of different colours?
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In most Indian households, the womenfolk stress the nutritional importance of having a meal plate with variously coloured fruits, vegetables, and dishes for every meal of the day. Aunts, mothers, and grandmothers might've insisted upon serving an extra helping of mixed greens, beans, and carrot poriyal or stir fry for a hint of orange and light green, or the deep purple beetroot poriyal along with white steamed rice and yellow sambhar consisting of chunks of potatoes, drumsticks, and brinjal. A few pieces of chicken fry or an egg preparation would follow, along with some curd at the end—an ideal South Indian lunch or dinner that was followed by a generous helping of fruit.
"Eat carrots; they are rich in vitamin A and are good for your eyes," my mother used to say. And at other times, grandmother would insist, "Have more greens; they are rich in iron and fibre. Eat pomegranate; it will improve the blood count."Most of us might have heard this time and again. But have you heard of the rainbow diet? It is a health-inspired trend that encourages the consumption of colourful fruits and vegetables. The idea is to eat foods of all the different colour families, including red, orange, yellow, green, and purple.
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