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Eating the rainbow, colour me confused!

53 replies

RainbowConfusion · 07/06/2025 21:56

I am absolutely certain that I am overthinking this, but am interested in some opinions!

I live alone currently, and am trying to eat more fresh foods. So far, so good. I will usually have salad wraps with fish or chicken or mixed root veg with roast chicken. Simple enough, and tasty.

Thing is, there is all of this new info encouraging us to consume more colourful veg, but in attempting to do so, I often end up with a good bit of waste as I can't eat all of it before it begins to go off. I am happy to keep some frozen veg although not all of it (especially salad) can be frozen, and the texture isn't as nice with many veggies.
So far I have frozen green beans, sprouts and peas , but not had much success with others.

How much colour variety do we realistically need? And is this per day or week?

I am trying not to produce waste or spend too much, so am a little confused.

Say I buy a bunch of salad items (leaves, radish, tomato, cucumber, etc) and root veg (carrots, potato, parsnip, sprouts), most will begin to go crappy before I get to them.
Maybe eat salad for half the week and root veg for the latter half?

If you live alone, just put me out of my misery and tell me how you do it, lol Grin

OP posts:
LittleGreenDuck · 08/06/2025 13:59

I thought this was going to be about Skittles. Though I think that was Taste the Rainbow.

RedBeech · 08/06/2025 14:10

Batch cook and freeze.

E.g. I made a chicken curry the other day with onion, fresh ginger and garlic, lots of fresh spinach, aubergine, yellow peppers and peas. Each serving had at least 2 of the five a day in it. Eat one portion, freeze three. That was yellow, green and purple from the rainbow.

So next day, I'd probably cook a pasta sauce with tomatoes, red and orange peppers, made with a sofritta base (carrot, celery and onion.) Eat one, with a leafy salad, freeze three.

Third day, use up the rest of the salad by making it your main dish, with beans, eggs and tuna as a Nicoise or feta and watermelon and mint etc.

Over the next few weeks, you have a few frozen meals, healthy, home made, with lots of veg in them, ready for when you get back from work, just let them defrost in the fridge.

You can also get colour from fruit - oranges and other citrus fruit, berries, pears, plums. I buy frozen blueberries, raspberries and cherries. You can just add a few to morning yoghurt or muesli. Treat yourself to ready chopped melon and pineapple occasionally, if you don't want to waste money on whole ones that go off.

RainbowConfusion · 08/06/2025 14:36

I occasionally crave a roast chicken breast, parsnip, carrot, potatoes, gravy, you know the whole roast dinner thing.
I can not find one single carrot or parsnip online anywhere.
Currently the only place where I can locate a single vegetable is Tesco carrot.

Lidl is my idea of hell, such a false economy - I can't just buy a piece of fruit or a lemon there, only a bag of ten, lol. DO love their anti pasti selection tho!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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buffyandspikeandfaith · 08/06/2025 14:40

RainbowConfusion · 08/06/2025 14:36

I occasionally crave a roast chicken breast, parsnip, carrot, potatoes, gravy, you know the whole roast dinner thing.
I can not find one single carrot or parsnip online anywhere.
Currently the only place where I can locate a single vegetable is Tesco carrot.

Lidl is my idea of hell, such a false economy - I can't just buy a piece of fruit or a lemon there, only a bag of ten, lol. DO love their anti pasti selection tho!

I end up going getting a carvery takeaway or a too good to go when I’m in that mood! Means I can have piles of veg with no waste
even if my dad did look stunned as I went back for a second plate of just veg and gravy Blush

RedBeech · 08/06/2025 14:57

RainbowConfusion · 08/06/2025 14:36

I occasionally crave a roast chicken breast, parsnip, carrot, potatoes, gravy, you know the whole roast dinner thing.
I can not find one single carrot or parsnip online anywhere.
Currently the only place where I can locate a single vegetable is Tesco carrot.

Lidl is my idea of hell, such a false economy - I can't just buy a piece of fruit or a lemon there, only a bag of ten, lol. DO love their anti pasti selection tho!

Do you have a Co-op, or major supermarket near you? Most of them allow you to buy single root veg.

BeNiceWhenItsFinished · 08/06/2025 15:01

@RainbowConfusion Invest in some Lakeland Stayfresh Longer fruit and veg bags. They really work and can be reused a number of times. I've had root veg in them stay fine for weeks on end.

WonderingWanda · 08/06/2025 15:06

Little gem lettuce or something on the stem will keep growing if you put them in a bit of water so will stay fresh. Raddish and cucumber are fine in the fridge. Left over cucumber makes a nice smoothie with melon. Frozen fruit for smoothies or to defrost and add to yogurt. Root veg will last a week or 2 in the fridge. Try pickled veg in jars in the fridge too. Make soup at the end of the week and then freeze it.

I don't think you need to eat the rainbow every day, just be mindful throughout the week.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 08/06/2025 15:53

RainbowConfusion · 08/06/2025 14:36

I occasionally crave a roast chicken breast, parsnip, carrot, potatoes, gravy, you know the whole roast dinner thing.
I can not find one single carrot or parsnip online anywhere.
Currently the only place where I can locate a single vegetable is Tesco carrot.

Lidl is my idea of hell, such a false economy - I can't just buy a piece of fruit or a lemon there, only a bag of ten, lol. DO love their anti pasti selection tho!

You can buy frozen carrots and parsnips.

zenae · 08/06/2025 16:15

Blanch and freeze your carrotts yourself, that doesn't cook them, but it is advised for freezing. Most bought frozen carrotts are spongy in texture and are awful, but chunks blanched and frozen yourself are much better. Same with other root veg.

As for the colourful stuff, well I hardly bother with leaves as they go slimy and awful, so I stick with parsley, cress and other bits of herbs that I pluck every day from my windowsill. I could grow leaves, but I've never been successful at all, the slugs have though! So I make ratatouille with all kinds of colourful stuff, it lasts a few days, or can be portioned and frozen.

I also live alone, and I can tell you that for me, cooking for one is a pain, so I make my own recipe brown hi fibre bread, and often just have eggs/cheese/tuna with it instead of cooking a whole dinner. I'm still here!

peafritterandcurrysauce · 08/06/2025 16:19

RainbowConfusion · 08/06/2025 14:36

I occasionally crave a roast chicken breast, parsnip, carrot, potatoes, gravy, you know the whole roast dinner thing.
I can not find one single carrot or parsnip online anywhere.
Currently the only place where I can locate a single vegetable is Tesco carrot.

Lidl is my idea of hell, such a false economy - I can't just buy a piece of fruit or a lemon there, only a bag of ten, lol. DO love their anti pasti selection tho!

Baking potato
red onion
onion
leek
sweet potato
carrot
parsnip
courgette
peppers
bananas
pears
appples
oranges

can all be bought individually in Tesco

peafritterandcurrysauce · 08/06/2025 16:21

Tesco on line that is

GetOffTheCounter · 08/06/2025 16:26

SapporoBaby · 08/06/2025 07:08

Try pickled or fermented veg - pickled cabbage and beetroot, sauerkraut etc. lasts ages

I was going to say the same. I probably eat beetroot (for example) 4 days a week and it is pickled. In salads and sandwiches mostly.

I'm getting some good tips here for storage of veg though and also I really do not eat enough fruit. I will focus more on frozen and tinned as well. Thanks OP!

soupyspoon · 08/06/2025 16:28

I dont bother with salad these days I just end up throwing quite a lot away when its just me eating it

Things you can freeze, beetroot, most fruits, roasted peppers, braised cabbage

Also I cannot abide carrots unless I buy the ready grated form in Asda, not sure why. I wonder if that can be frozen.

However completely agree with the poster above that this was all overrated to be honest, was coming on to say just that.

itsgettingweird · 08/06/2025 16:29

I live with my son and I put fruit such as strawberries and grapes in clip lock boxes in the fridge when I buy them as they last longer. Same with lettuce. I shred it into the box’s cucumber is cut in half put in a box etc.

Basically I find storing in airtight containers in the fridge doubles the shelf life of fresh fruit and veg

BiddyPopthe2nd · 08/06/2025 17:20

Potatoes and carrots should definitely last longer than leaves.

I tend to use leaves and mushrooms and berries and stone fruit (peaches, nectarines etc) first, then more salad things (courgette, peppers, tomatoes, avocados, sugar snap peas, french beans) as the next most urgent, and finally roots (potatoes, carrots, parsnips, squashes) and cabbage family (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts) and apples and citrus fruit as the longest lasting.

I tend to do big salads with a good mix of veg in them. Leaves, chucks of carrots/pepper/avocado, cherry tomatoes, olives, sugar snaps etc.

i do stir fries or pasta meals with a mix of veg - generally start with half an onion, clove of garlic, mushrooms,peppers, etc and then add other bits according to what’s in the fridge and needs to be used/would work in the dish. If the fresh is a bit lean, I might add tinned corn or bamboo shoots or water chestnuts to expand the veg. Or frozen peas.

I make berry smush soon after I buy them - whizz up mixed berries for smoothies and freeze a lot of the mix in ice cubes to use in future days. I would often have a bowl of mixed berries as a dessert too while they’re still fresh.

I also make a big bag of Mediterranean veggies for toasting at times - even sized chicks (size doesn’t matter as long as they’re the same in the bowl) of onion, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, courgette, peppers, tomatoes (you could add aubergine I just am not a fan) etc, season with salt/pepper, herbs like oregano/basil/thyme/rosemary, good slug of olive oils, and a dash of balsamic vinegar is nice. This freezes well both before and after cooking - so is handy to use up good deals and have either raw mix to throw in the oven in a hurry or cooked to toss into plain tomato sauce (and some bacon bits, cooked chicken, prawns, chorizo etc if you want) for an easy pasta dish.

And sometimes I just slice up peppers for fajitas or paella type meals and freeze those if I have a glut.

I like roasted roots as well - it’s easy enough to do a 1 person, or 2 person for an easy tomorrow’s veg option, batch of carrot, parsnip, butternut squash, onion, garlic and seasoning. But while the rest of the butternut squash isn’t great to keep, I tend to roast the rest in a different pan with some paprika over it, and once it’s cooled, whizz it up and freeze for soup or the base of a “Gorgonzola and pumpkin” type pasta dish.

Summerisere · 08/06/2025 17:30

I always have some easy peelers, frozen fruit and veg, pears, onions, tins of sweetcorn in the house for when I’m due a shop.
I don’t count food portions but never have a meal without fruit or veg.

BiddyPopthe2nd · 08/06/2025 17:36

Also, I keep mushrooms sitting on a sheet of kitchen towel in an open plastic tub in the veg drawer (as they sweat), peppers, courgettes, avocados, sugar snaps, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots there.

Spinach I leave in its bag and just seal with a clip or peg once it’s opened (I tend to only buy it every 2/3 weeks as I use it for 2/3 meals that week and I don’t want to hate it).

Potatoes are in 1 basket and onions/garlic in another in a cool dark cupboard.

Pumpkin, butternuts etc I tend to leave on the counter as they are fairly long lasting.

apples, citrus etc are in a bowl on the counter, pears or kiwis sit at the top to be eaten quickly
ly, but berries and stone fruit I keep in the fridge.

RainbowConfusion · 08/06/2025 17:58

A lot to read through here, this is really helpful, thanks everyone!

I also feel at a loss with leaves, and the quality of many are awful lately.
I adore rocket so much but am endlessly fed up of opening a fresh bag and it stinking of farts.

I will stick with potted stuff, herbs and watercress for the time being!

Will be compiling these tips for future use.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/06/2025 18:07

Are you taking everything out of any plastic wrapping before putting in the fridge? The plastic makes things wet and they go off much faster.

Netcam · 08/06/2025 18:16

I recommend a veg box. We like Abel and Cole's fruit and veg boxes which allow swaps of all items. We shop at Ocado too but don't get much veg from there as it doesn't last as long. The main exceptions are Ocado own brand organic cucumber, cherry tomatoes and cauliflower which are good.

I usually eat Greek yoghurt or kefir with fruit and nuts for breakfast, a big salad which includes some protein and a whole cucumber just for myself, a few cherry tomatoes and an avocado for lunch. I eat something which includes lots of veg for dinner, such as bean and vegetable chilli, or baked salmon with roasted veg. Even though I don't live alone, I don't think I would have issues with it going off as I eat so much veg every day.

The Abel and Cole veg seems fresher than supermarket veg and is not wrapped in plastic. I line my veg compartment in the fridge with a paper towel and put it all in there.

yakkity · 08/06/2025 18:20

Carrots potatoes beets and parsnips last for 3 weeks
Squash lasts the next millennia.

is your house very warm and damp?

CiaoMeow · 08/06/2025 18:21

BadlydoneHelen · 07/06/2025 22:31

Cucumber also lasts better out of the fridge

I never knew!!😮

mackerella · 09/06/2025 22:29

You can buy single parsnips (estimated price: 33p) and carrots (estimated price: 10p) online from Waitrose!

notnorman · 10/06/2025 08:05

InWithThePlums · 08/06/2025 13:45

This sounds amazing

yum!!!

notnorman · 10/06/2025 08:06

I make sure my drawers are clean and line them with kitchen roll, taking everything out of its packaging too. This seems to help. Also fridge is set to 2 degrees

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