Everyone knows that food can make you feel good, but did you also know that colour can do the same?
Chromotherapy or colour therapy is the study of how colour affects mood and there's a growing body of research that indicates it does actually work. That plus the thousands of years that colour therapy has been used in Egypt, Greece, China and India.
There are other health benefits to 'eating the rainbow' as well. The more colourful the food we eat, the more likely we are to get the full spectrum of nutrition into our weary bodies. It works a bit like this:
Red - tomatoes, strawberries and red capsicum brim with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce cancer risk and increase heart health.
Orange / Yellow - carotenoids give carrots, oranges, pumpkin and sweet potatoes their colour. The most famous of all the carotenoids is beta-carotene, which keeps your eyes looking good.
Green - leafy greens, limes and broccoli are all packed with phytochemicals that have protective, anti-cancer properties.
Blue / Purple - beets, blueberries, red cabbage and eggplants are the blue heroes, coloured by a pigment called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin has antioxidant properties that protect your cells from damage.
So, if you need a little mood boost, or you just want to brighten someone's day with a meal that embraces the rainbow, here's your ticket.
Well red
A tender kangaroo fillet relaxing on a pile of spiced buttery red cabbage is a yes please for dinner. This bright and cheery dish has the added health benefit of more than eight native herbs and spices.
Tops tomato
It might be an apple a day that keeps the doc away, but a tomato a day keeps the blues at bay. Fortunately, tomatoes pop up in dishes from every cuisine, so we can keep sampling something new forever. Like this Cantonese tomato and egg stir-fry.
Added pep
When this vegetarian dish hits the table, hearts will sing. The red capsicums are stuffed with rice, herbs and baharat, or whatever else you like. It's that kind of dish.
Citrus burst
This orange chocolate cake would make you feel good even without the burst of orangey goodness. We've no shortage of orange cakes to keep you happy. Try one of these beauties:
Carrot on
Carrot tzimmes is a traditional Jewish Eastern European dish eaten at Jewish New Year. It's made with all the good orange stuff to pack you full of those eye-loving beta-carotenes to see in the new year.
Baked sweet
When you see a dish of candied sweet potatoes like this one, are you also tempted to just jump right in there? Bombs away!
Yello Yellow
So many spices are yellow-hued - turmeric being the boss of them all. This yellow rice chicken from Thailand is an aromatic one-pot dish that seems full of sunshine thanks to its generous spice count.
Green king
We're crowning spinach the king of the greens, with the understanding that broccoli is not happy about it. Sorry brocc, this cheese and spinach gratin agrees with the crowning.
Brocc on
Broccoli sees spinach's gratin and counters with this outstanding cheddar tart. That crown is looking a little shaky...
Peas out
Meanwhile, peas are quietly over here smashing it with bacon and eggs for the win.
Not-so blue
These pretty dumplings will make you do a double-take and blue pea flowers are responsible for this magnificence. A truly beautiful way to 'eat with your eyes'.
Get buns
The Finns start their summer day with a blueberry bun and we reckon we should all follow suit. They look innocent, but they are laced with cardamom to give your day a welcome kick start.
Can't beet it
A vego burger with the lot, including a pop of beet-red in the patty. It's a mood boost in a bun.
Which neatly brings us back to the top of the rainbow, ready to go around again. Happy eating!
SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
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