Food as Fashion: How Your Plate Is Like Your Closet - Women Campus

I had just come home from a year of college and was looking at my enormous laundry pile. In front of me was a tangerine sweater, blueberry shorts, and a lime t-shirt (hey, I'm a dietetics major. I describe colors in terms of food). I got to thinking, girls find nutrition overwhelming, but they already know the basics. Nutrition is in fact quite similar to fashion. Let me break it down for you.

You need every color of accessory imaginable

In order to get all the nutrients your body needs, eat different colors of foods throughout the week. For example, eat a green vegetable for lunch, a red one for dinner, and the next day try an orange vegetable. If you're really up for a challenge, see if you can eat a fruit or vegetable that fits each color of the rainbow within the week.

It's a new season, so change your wardrobe from t-shirts to sweaters

Some foods taste best when they are in season as nature intended. Nothing beats a summer tomato or a fall squash. In-season foods are more nutrient-dense, not to mention less expensive, than artificially ripened off-season ones. Here's a website to see what's in season now.

Mix and match

This is a great way to learn to love new foods. You don't always wear your navy blue headband with your white sweater; that would get boring. Variety is the spice of life! Pair a food you are unsure of with something you know you love. For example, turnips are in season right now. If you know you love carrots, chop them up together and roast them in the oven with a little olive oil and salt. If you want to get your roommates to try something new, pair jicama (a crisp root veggie) with celery, broccoli, and tomatoes on a dip dish.

Share outfits with your friends

My little sister and I share clothes, and recipes too! A friend may know a tasty way to cook fish that you never would have thought of (Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart girls! Learn to love fish.). You could also help them learn to love a new dish. Host a recipe party and have each guest bring their favorite dish with enough copies of the recipe for all, or start an email thread with favorite recipes.

Shop Online

The joy of the Internet; online window-shopping! There are several fabulous websites for free recipes. FoodNetwork.com is very easy to navigate with categories such as Quick and Easy, Chef Recipes, and Holiday Parties. My personal go-to site is Recipezaar.com where other cooks can make suggestions or reviews of the recipe. Learn from their mistakes! This week I'm researching online how to make French macaroons, which are particularly tricky, so I'm looking up common problems and solutions too. Sources: http://americanfood.about.com/od/resourcesadditionalinfo/a/seasonalprolist.htm Foodnetwork.com Recipezaar.com