Colorful Choices Program Eases Information Overloads about Fruits and Vegetables

After talking with JoAnn Daehler-Miller, Dietitian for the University of Iowa, about what foods we should be eating to have a healthy and balanced diet, she said, “Sorry, that was a lot of information all at once.”

While yes, it was a lot of information, for me it was okay to hear it all. It helped me understand the food groups and answered all my questions. However, once she said that it got me to thinking: all of this information must be overwhelming at first for someone who is starting out with trying to be healthy. So, I asked her what was a way to learn all of this over time so that people won’t become overwhelmed.

That is when she introduced me to the Colorful Choices program. This is a 20-day program through the University of Iowa Student Health and Wellness that introduces how to get the proper amount of servings of fruits and vegetables. So, it just takes one aspect of nutrition and focuses solely on that, making it easier to put into practice right away.

While I was too late to register for this session, I found multiple resources that were on the Student Health and Wellness site under the Colorful Choices tab that I can put into practice on my own. One that I found very fascinating and helpful was called “Beyond the Rainbow: Fresh Ways to Prepare Fruits and Vegetables.”

Not only does it give you examples of vegetables and fruits that are healthy, but it gives new ways to spice them up. One of the ideas, kebabs, was one that I wanted to experiment with.

My roommates and I always buy fruit and vegetables at the store (usually HyVee because I find they have the freshest items) and so all we did was add in wooden sticks to put them on. We cut up vegetables like tomatoes, green and yellow peppers, and potatoes and put them on wooden kebab sticks and put them in a skillet with olive oil. It was delicious and we had a fun time doing it.

Everyone should try this. Even though the Colorful Choices program is closed for now, there are still those resources on the site that should be used. The program and the resources are free, which is great since any other information/meeting with a dietitian outside of the University is going to cost a good chunk of money. These resources are a fun way to prepare your fruits and vegetables and also gives other resources to help you find out what vegetables and fruits are in season, which is when they are cheaper to buy.

Part 2: How to Make Your Healthy Foods Last Longer To Save More Money

JoAnn Daehler-Miller with the Student Health and Wellness Center at the University of Iowa discusses easy ways to preserve the healthy food you have already bought and gives ideas for foods to buy that are cheap and last longer.

Part 1: A Better Understanding of What Main Food Groups are Important in a Healthy Lifestyle

Dietitian, JoAnn Daehler-Miller, with the Student Health and Wellness Center at the University of Iowa explains what are the necessary food groups individuals should be eating and how much of those foods an individual should have in order to have a healthy diet.

*When she is discussing how a “plate” is very helpful, she is referring to the government issued program called “My Plate”

Here is what your “My Plate” would look like.