I have a confession. When it comes to why eating the rainbow is not just a saying I have gone back and forth more times than I can count. One week I would read about approach A and be convinced it was the answer. The next week someone would recommend approach B and I would start over from scratch.
It took me a while to realize that the whole “one size fits all” mindset was the problem. Not the approaches themselves. So let me break down both sides and tell you what I have learned from trying each.
Approach number one for why eating the rainbow is not just a saying is the gradual steady method. It works well for people who like clear guidelines and measurable progress. If you are someone who needs a roadmap before you start, this is probably more your speed.
I tried this first because it felt safe. There are rules to follow and a clear endpoint. For the first few weeks it went great. Then life got in the way and I fell off the wagon hard.
Method B for why eating the rainbow is not just a saying is the newer more flexible way of thinking about it. There are fewer rules and more room for adjustment. If you hate rigid schedules this might feel more natural.
Honestly I was skeptical of this at first. It felt too loose. But once I tried it I realized it actually worked better for the long term because I did not feel like I was constantly failing at it.
Here is where I landed after trying both. Neither approach is wrong. What matters is your personality and your lifestyle.
If you thrive on structure and clear goals go with approach A. If you need flexibility and hate feeling constrained go with approach B. Or do what I eventually did borrow from both. Take the structure from A and the flexibility from B.
The best approach to why eating the rainbow is not just a saying is the one you will actually stick with. That is it.
Choose approach A if: You like clear rules. You want measurable milestones. You feel lost without a plan.
Choose approach B if: You have tried rigid plans and they never stuck. You prefer listening to your body. You want something you can adjust on the fly.
Choose a mix if: You want structure in some areas and flexibility in others.
A few practical tips regardless of which approach you pick:
Give it at least two weeks before deciding if it works. The first few days are always awkward and that is not a fair test.
Pay attention to how you feel not just what the metrics say. Sometimes a “less effective” approach that you enjoy is actually more effective in the long run because you do not quit.
I like to pair it with a cup of green tea in the morning.
Look the bottom line about why eating the rainbow is not just a saying is that there is no single right way. What works for me might not work for you and that is fine. The goal is to find something that fits into your life not something that requires you to rearrange your whole world.
Have you tried something similar? I would love to know how it went for you.
