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Youve probably heard the term eating the rainbow thrown around, and for good reason.

But Im a registered dietitian, and this maximlike so much conventional wisdom in the nutrition realmdrives me bonkers.

She completed her masters degree in Nutrition Science at North Carolina Central University.

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Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD, is a trained chef and registered dietitian.

Madalyn Vasquez, RD, CDCES is a member of Summit Healths Nutrition Services team.

True, most Americans could benefit from eating more fruits and vegetables.

Currently, only about10 percent of adultsget their five-a-day.

An image of four wine glasses on a wooden surface

But who says they have to be rainbow-hued?

Not everything you eatfor health reasons or otherwiseneeds to be vibrant.

In fact, it paints a narrow view of what healthy eating can look like.

Young woman mixing ice coffee

Think of cauliflower, parsnips, daikon radishes, and jicama.

Even starchy white vegetables, which are sometimes villainized, are nutrient rich.

Andpotassium, also found in bananas, is crucial for nerve and muscle function and heart health.

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD, is a trained chef and registered dietitian.

After all, theyre still fruits and vegetables.

Other plant-based white foods, like nuts and seeds, are widely hailed by wellness devotees as well.

Carbs such as beans, whole grains, and starchy vegetables arealsohigh in fiber.

Two cups with coffee and green tea on a beige background.

But processed carbs like cereal and packaged bread products arent evil.

Sure, a steady diet of creme brulee and queso blanco with tortilla chips isnt nutritionally sound.

But eating these things sometimes, as part of a varied overall diet, is just fine.

red pigment in a wooden spoon

And this has consequences.

Instead of giving blanket advice thats doomed to fail, Soto takes a much more individualized approach.

Everybody is so different, she says.

And in this context, white foods actually provide nutritional balance.

Theres all of these reds and greens and purples, she says.

Everything is so freaking colorful, and the photography makes it look amazing.

Often, this can also mean intimidating and inaccessible.

But you dont need to toss something green into everything you eat.

Its okay if some meals and snacks lack color, because less vibrant foods deliver nutrients as well.

Aesthetics just arent a great standard against which to measure nutrition.

In fact, a diet of only kale salads and smoothie bowls isnt healthy at all.

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