COLOR ME HEALTHY
Colors play such an important part of our eating experience. It is usually the first thing we notice about food and the first thing that makes us want to eat it or not.
Artificial dyes might look pretty cool and appealing but most of these artificial food colors are full of chemicals and certainly not good for your overall health. These colors have been linked with a vast number of health problems.
However, natural food colors are very healthy and filled with nutrients. They originate from a wide range of sources like vegetables, fruits, plants, minerals, and other edible natural sources.
RAINBOW SUPERFOODS
Here is the list of five of my favorite superfood powders:
- Blue spirulina powder
- Pink pitaya powder
- Butterfly pea flower powder
- Turmeric powder
- Maqui berry powder
If you want to try these powders yourself, you can buy them online or at specialty stores.
BLUE SPIRULINA POWDER
Blue spirulina is a blue pigment derived from blue-green algae. It is very rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and antioxidants.
This powder is very mild in flavor, almost flavorless. It’s perfect for coloring raw cakes, smoothies, lattes, noodles, rice, and more. I’m quite sure you’ll love the color because it’s so vibrant and truly gorgeous.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store it in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight at room temperature.
PINK PITAYA POWDER
Pink pitaya, also called the Dragon fruit, is a delicious fruit very high in fiber and rich in antioxidants. It has a deep pink color and a sweet tropical taste.
Pink pitaya powder is specially freeze-dried to preserve flavor and nutrients. The recommended daily dose is three teaspoons, equaling 6 grams.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store it in a cool dry place, in an airtight container. Pitaya powder is very sensitive to moisture and can easily get lumpy and hard if not stored correctly. If that happens, just dissolve it in some hot water before use.
BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER POWDER
Butterfly pea flower powder is best known for its dazzling natural blue coloring. The powder is made by grinding organic, dried butterfly pea flowers. There is also a butterfly pea flower tea, a caffeine-free herbal tea made from a combination of dried blue pea flowers and lemongrass. Both of these are great as natural food colorings. However, I prefer the powder form because it’s so much easier to use and the color is more intense.
An interesting fact about this powder/tea is that it turns purple as soon as the pH balance of the tea changes. Mix in a little bit of lemon juice or lime juice and see what happens – it will change its color to purple/pink. Or add some baking soda to your now purple/pink drink and stir it and it’ll instantly change back to blue color.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store it in a cool dry place, in an airtight container.
TURMERIC POWDER
Turmeric powder is great as a natural food coloring since it provides a bright yellow color to food thanks to its pigment curcumin. The powder is oil soluble and tends to fade in light but has pretty good heat stability.
It is mostly used in savory dishes but I love adding it to my sweet treats. Just be careful not to add too much of it because it can create an unwanted bitterness.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store it in a cool dry place, in an airtight container.
MAQUI BERRY POWDER
Maqui berries have a rich purple color and taste similar to blackberries. They are incredibly high in antioxidants. In particular, they’re rich in a group of antioxidants called anthocyanins, pigments responsible for the purple color.
Maqui berry powder is freeze-dried to maintain its nutrients. It will give you a gorgeous purple hue. You can add 1-2 teaspoons to your morning smoothie, overnight oats, or yogurt. Or use it to make gorgeous raw desserts.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store it in a cool, dark, and dry place, in an airtight container.
13 COLORFUL RECIPES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY
1. Overnight Oats Blueberry Bowl
This overnight oats blueberry bowl is a delicious, filling, and nutritious breakfast that will take you less than 10 minutes to make (if you don’t count soaking oats).
To get this gorgeous purple hue, I added a small amount of blue spirulina and pitaya powder.
2. Mango Turmeric Cheesecake
The combination of mango and turmeric is just amazing: mango’s sweet and refreshing flavor perfectly complements the warm and earthy flavor of turmeric powder.
This no-bake cheesecake is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and great for summer.
3. Maqui Chocolate Cheesecake
This layered maqui berry chocolate cheesecake has a roasted hazelnut crust sweetened with dates. The crust is topped with two delicious creamy layers: chocolate and maqui berry layer.
The cake is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. No oven required!
4. Gluten-Free Purple Pancakes
These pancakes are easy to make and they taste great. For this gorgeous purple color, you’ll need pink pitaya powder and butterfly pea flower powder.
The pancakes are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free.
5. Pink Pitaya Cheesecake
No-bake pink pitaya cheesecake has a roasted almond-oat crust sweetened with dates. The crust is topped with a creamy pink pitaya-cashew layer.
The cheesecake is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and perfect for summer.
6. Purple Ombre Breakfast Jar
Start your morning right with a delicious combo of overnight oats and frozen bananas, colored with blue spirulina and pink pitaya powder.
7. Coconut Maqui Berry Cheesecake
This delicious coconut maqui berry cheesecake has roasted almond-coconut crust topped with two creamy layers: a coconut layer with dried raspberries and a maqui berry layer on top.
The cheesecake is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and perfect for summer. No oven required!
8. Coconut Blue Spirulina Raspberry Cheesecake
This delicious no-bake coconut blue spirulina raspberry cheesecake has a roasted almond-oat crust sweetened with dates and topped with two creamy layers – a coconut layer with fresh raspberries and a blue spirulina layer.
9. Protein-Rich Mango Lime Pudding
Refreshing and flavorful mango lime pudding is loaded with healthy ingredients – silken tofu, coconut cream, mango, lime juice, and my favorite spice – turmeric. It is high in protein, smooth, creamy, and sooo yum!
You can enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, or as an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s super easy to make and can be ready in less than 15 minutes.
1O. Easy Chia Pudding
A healthy breakfast recipe packed with essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber.
This is a quick and easy recipe that will take you less than 10 minutes to make (if you don’t count soaking the seeds). Colored with blue spirulina powder.
11. Stracciatella Maqui Cheesecake
A delicious stracciatella, maqui berry, and white chocolate cheesecake is gluten-free, vegan, and requires no baking. It has roasted almond and cashew base topped with two creamy layers – stracciatella layer with dark chocolate pieces and a purple maqui berry layer with white chocolate. A perfect cake for any occasion.
12. Mango Banana Oatmeal Parfait
Mango banana oatmeal parfait is a simple and easy breakfast made with overnight oats, frozen bananas, and mango. A small amount of turmeric powder gives it a beautiful color and a healthy kick!
13. Blue Pancakes
For these blue pancakes, I went with a wholesome mix of buckwheat and rice flour. To get this gorgeous deep blue/purple hue, I added butterfly pea flower powder.
The pancakes are vegan and gluten-free.
