Ever wondered what makes fruit and veg so colourful? It's down to the different pigments. Red foods – think red cabbage, peppers, tomatoes and strawberries – contain anthocyanins, which help to reduce inflammation, support a healthy gut and ward off disease.

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Not only that, there are health benefits to eating a diet with plenty of plant diversity, specifically 30 plants a week. It's important to 'eat the rainbow' and include fruits and veg of varying colours. By doing so, you'll consume plenty of fibre, which supports good gut bacteria, and protective antioxidants.

Discover our best healthy orange recipes below, then have a look at our healthy green recipes, healthy colourful recipes, healthy salads, top recipes for a healthy gut and find out how to improve your gut health.

Harissa, butter bean and red pepper orzo

Enjoy a comforting bowl of pasta with the punchy flavours of harissa and red pepper.

A one-pan orzo dish with tomatoes and prawns

Cod, cherry tomato and green olive traybake

This recipe for a cod, cherry tomato and green olive traybake is so easy to prepare, and looks impressive when you pull it out of the oven.

Cod, cherry tomato and green olive traybake

Spanish mackerel

This simple recipe makes great use of storecupboard staples like chickpeas, tinned tomatoes and 'nduja.

Two plates of mackerel with crisp skin sat on a tomato and chickpea mix with a pink linen background

Kimchi

Time and patience is what you need to make your own kimchi, but the gut health benefits make it worth it.

Jars of bright red homemade kimchi

Sugar-free cookies

These vegan cookies are a healthy treat, free from refined sugars with a naturally sweetened jammy centre made using raspberries.

Sugar-Free Cookies Topped with Jam on a Metal Cooling Rack

Shakshuka

A classic brunch dish, shakshuka is made by simmering spices, peppers and tomatoes with eggs – serve with toast and eat straight from the pan.

Shakshuka Recipe

Chorizo, greens and bean stew

This high-protein chorizo and bean stew is flavoured with sweet smoked paprika, and makes use of cherry tomatoes and kale.

Chorizo, greens and bean stew in a large dish, placed on a table with a side of chopped parsley

Tuna and tomato salad with olives

If you follow the Mediterranean diet, this tomato, olive and tuna salad is a great idea for a light lunch or dinner.

Tuna and tomato salad with olives

Caribbean black bean curry

Bring together the right combination of spices, condiments and herbs to transform humble black beans into a punchy Caribbean-style curry.

a silver pan with a wooden handle on a white wooden chopping board filled with pan of a bright-red coloured curry

Red cabbage salad

This vibrant winter salad combines tangy red cabbage with pomegranates and apple. Perfect as a side to roast meats, or for a colourful lunch.

A red cabbage, apple and pomegranate salad in a white bowl

Pepper, date and harissa tagine

This tagine simmers peppers until soft, but you could add any summery veg to the base sauce – chunks of squash or courgette would be good.

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Pepper, date and harissa tagine in a serving bowl

Tomato and red pepper soup

Soup isn't just for winter – this summery tomato and red pepper soup makes a great lunch on a warm day and will use up that glut of tomatoes from the garden, too.

two bowls of red soup scattered with basil leaves and sat on folded linen napkins with chinks of crusty bread

Authors

Isabella Keeling - Deputy health editorDeputy health editor

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