| Losing weight doesn't have to be boring when you | | | | deliciously interesting salad: Avocado, Walnut & |
| focus on bright, colourful meals. What does this | | | | Crispy Bacon. |
| mean? Simply by making sure your plate reflects a | | | | Preparation: 15 minutes |
| range of colours, you'll naturally create more balanced | | | | Cooking: 8 minutes |
| and healthful menus. Not everyone has the time or | | | | Serves: 4 |
| the patience to count calories, but assessing the | | | | Ingredients: |
| colours on your plate is something anyone can do - | | | | 7oz/200 g rindless bacon, chopped |
| and it only takes an instant! | | | | 1/2 cup walnut haves, roughly chopped |
| Why is colour important? Many fatty and caloric | | | | 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil |
| foods, such as dairy products and startchy carbs, are | | | | 1/4 cup fresh lime juicesale and ground black pepper |
| beige or brown. When there are too many of these | | | | 6oz/150g baby spinach, trimmed and washed |
| drab colours on your plate, weight gain is almost | | | | 3 ripe Roma (egg) tomatoes, diced |
| certain. | | | | 1 large ripe avocado, halved, peeled, seed removed |
| That's because these beige foods often are high in | | | | and sliced |
| calories and can leave you feeling hungry later. A cup | | | | 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced |
| of beige or brown beans can be over 200 | | | | Directions: |
| calories....but a cup of red or green vegetables is | | | | 1. Heat a non-tick frying pay over medium high heat. |
| under a hundred! Add fresh greens, deep purple-reds | | | | Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 |
| and bright yellow-orange to a meal, and water the | | | | minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside to |
| nutrient content go up, while calories go down! Plus, | | | | cool. |
| you'll get more enjoyment from eating when there's | | | | 2. Add walnuts to pan and cook over medium-high |
| a variety of colours and flavors on your plate. | | | | heat for 2-3 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove |
| Although these ideas may sound whimsical, they're | | | | with a slotted spoon to a plate and set aside. |
| grounded in scientific fact. Dr David Heber, renowned | | | | 3. Add oil and lime juice to pan. Season with salt and |
| nutritional expert from University of California, Los | | | | pepper to taste and stir to combine. |
| Angeles established the role of colour in his book, | | | | 4. Combine spinach, tomatoes, avocado, onion, bacon |
| "What Color is Your Diet?" So, next time you visit | | | | and walnuts in a large serving bowl. Pour warm lime |
| the refrigerator, think colorfully. And remember to | | | | dressing over salad and toss gently to combine. |
| mix, not match! | | | | Serve immediately. |
| To get you started on the color plate, here is a | | | | |