I am a person of color. Perhaps not in the same sense as others who use this statement but I enjoy bright vivid colors. It’s reflected in my home, in my wardrobe, in the art that I admire and the objects that I photograph.
Look familiar? Super pixelated romanesco cauliflower
I don’t know if this happens to men. I walked into a planning meeting the other morning wearing black trousers and a pink sweater. Seated immediately across from me was another woman wearing a pink dress with a black jacket. Past three male colleagues sat another female colleague wearing a pink and black outfit. Then there was the trite recurring question, “who sent the memo?”
I have no idea how this happens but it does with some regularity. And despite my best attempts to research, I have only been able to find other individuals that are fascinated with concept.
Yet, colors do matter and do mean something. Consider the colors of ties worn by presidents who want to appear trustworthy or strong or neutral. Understand the complex color patterns delivered in the plot of the AMC hit series Breaking Bad. Count the revenue coming into the MLB shops where the home team has red in their uniforms or logo versus those who don’t.
Thoughts about color and its effect on us is hardly new. The Canon of Medicine, written by Persian philosopher Avicenna, in 1025, first explored the notion of color as it related to the physical condition of the human body. Avicenna believed that red moved the blood while blue or white had cooling effects and that yellow could reduce inflammation or muscular pain. Those who practice ayurvedic medicine refer to the body’s seven chakras with each having a distinct color.
Many rule out practices such as color therapy believing it untrue yet food marketers and frankly, marketers universally acknowledge that your perception of a color can in fact, affect your perception of taste and your willingness to delve into your pocketbook. They tell us that we most often associate green with calm feelings.
Color Psychology: The Color Green
- natural cool
- growth money
- health envy
- tranquility harmony
- calmness fertility
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups of shredded greens (we used raab and kale)
- 1/2 cup caramelized onions (great to have in the freezer)
- 1 bunch asparagus, chopped in 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 large red pepper, diced
- 1 large package 8 vegan sausage patties, quartered (optional)
- 1 jalapeño, diced (optional)
- shredded cheese (optional)
Heat a wok over medium heat and add olive oil. When oil is aromatic, add garlic and sauté until just golden. Add greens and stir a few times before added caramelized onions.
Allow greens to soften slightly before adding asparagus and red pepper. Once added, give it a few minutes and a few good stirs until the asparagus and pepper is tender. Salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare the sausage separately and then quarter and toss with the vegetables. Top with jalapeño or cheese if you like.
I had intended to give you a lovely dinner greens side dish but my family woke early and having traveled for Thanksgiving, there was no time to get to the store. We did a breakfast scramble sans eggs yet there is not a bite to spare!
Do you believe in the effects of color?
Agrigirl's Blog 
Sally
/ December 1, 2013Tammy, I had a stressful day and night. Today awoke and wearing a green sweater, earrings, hat, necklace and shawl! Then read this wonderful blog. I feel better and now know why! The meal looks wonderful and I love veggies for breakfast!
Thank you for this fun information.
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013I love to wear bright colors Sally. I think they make me feel more vibrant. I’m not sure if there is a really practice of chromotherapy or if I have just come to believe so.
nrhatch
/ December 1, 2013I definitely believe that color and mood are connected . . . and love that you all got the “pink and black” memo delivered via telepathy. 😀
That scramble sounds great.
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Have you had that happen where everyone shows up in the same color combination? It’s so odd yet I truly haven’t found any research looking into it.
Sheree
/ December 1, 2013I love this post, Tammy. I can so identify. 🙂
Interestingly enough, my family (my parents, me, and, these days, whichever other family members are in town) always has a Christmas Eve breakfast-for-dinner around 4 p.m. This year, we tried it for Thanksgiving Eve as well. My niece and I filled our omelettes with a variety of greens from our Shine Springs Farm garden: Swiss chard, radicchio, mustard, spinach and baby kale.
Even as a teen, I had a common response to “do you like xyz dish”? If it’s green, I’ll eat it.
That’s even more true today.
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Love the green. Was surprised that it went over as well for breakfast as it did but happy nonetheless.
Kathy
/ December 1, 2013In my one adventure in interior decorating, I painted a room turquoise with white trim. Visitors’ reactions ranged from Um, yes, well… to It’s gorgeous! But every time I entered that room, my mood lifted.
I’ve never been one for green at breakfast, but the recipe looks delicious, and I’m going to try it. May have to add a side of eggs for my husband. 🙂
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013I had planned eggs on that morning and didn’t know we were out. This was a hit. I love the story about your turquoise room. Clearly, it made a difference for you.
dianescholten
/ December 1, 2013Wow – that sounds GREAT! Thanks, friend!
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Easy too! you are welcome.
hotlyspiced
/ December 1, 2013I went to a conference once where the guy was talking about the impact of colours and what they all mean. To him, yellow was very significant and he was selling his book and it had yellow pages! I found it very hard to read! xx
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013I can’t imagine reading a book with Yellow Pages. I wouldn’t be able to do so as I’m sure it would hurt my eyes. That said, I do believe colors have an impact upon us and some of those can be very powerful and positive.
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
/ December 1, 2013I suffer from severe inflammation and yet I have not one yellow item of clothing in my wardrobe. Maybe instinctually I don’t believe in colour therapy 🙂
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Ok, maybe we need to introduce a bit of yellow.
Bren
/ December 2, 2013I’m waiting for the post on fuchsia. 🙂
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013hahaha. Love it. May wear it tomorrow.
thesofaortheroad
/ December 2, 2013Black is for serious business, pink a little more playful : I like the balance that these women have brought to their meetings! I’m wearing several shades of purple today : I’ll ask google what that means! Thanks for an inspiring post.
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Well, I hope you have better luck than I had. I am actually quite interested in the synchronicity of color but it is vacuous out there!
Kath
/ December 2, 2013I must admit I’m a bit envious you’re having asparagus right now! 😀
Green is one of my favorite colors. It has a very calming effect on me. In general, I like natural colors – white, grey, green, blue, earth tones. This is also what I like to wear and have in my home. When Peter and I moved in, the walls of our apartment were painted in yellow and orange which I found terrible. Now everything looks fresh and clean.
The hubby likes to dress more colorful than me. He has a lot of red, pink, and green t-shirts, and used to love his yellow sneakers but they are worn-out now.
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Maybe his colors will wear onto you in time!!
yummychunklet
/ December 2, 2013Now I want asparagus!
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013It’s odd that we have it this time of year. My son was hungry for it the other day and it came in handy.
Lisa H
/ December 2, 2013Green is my favorite color! I even painted my bedroom a bright green when I was a teenager. It always felt calming to me when I went in there.
Your breakfast recipe looks delicious! I love veggie sausage and the fact that you made it without eggs.
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Green is a great color for a bedroom. In fact, I should rethink this a bit as my kid with a green room is pretty calm and my kids with a red room could be more so!!
Bill
/ December 4, 2013Everything left in our gardens is green too (although there isn’t as much of it as we’d like thanks to our recent cold spell). The recipe looks great. I’ll put it aside for spring, when we’ll have fresh asparagus!
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Asparagus was sort of the after-thought. It’s not usual here this time of year. Greens however, are coming out our ears – yeah, I know, that’s not too original.
nancy at good food matters
/ December 4, 2013Hi Tammy, I like these observations about colors, their impacts and meanings (I had to click on the Breaking Bad link to read about Vince Gilligan’s use of it—interesting stuff) Like all things in the physical plane, color can have a dual nature: Green for health or Green for Envy/Yellow for Sunshine or Yellow for Cowardice
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013They do have a dual nature Nancy – that’s why there’s a color spectrum. Right? You’re the first to comment on the breaking bad connection. My husband will love you.
I WIlkerson
/ December 4, 2013Hmmm, I’m hungry and it’s bed time…
Tammy
/ December 5, 2013Sleep well in green dreams.
Kirsten
/ December 13, 2013Tammy,
I have a lavender bedroom for the first time in wow probably 2 decades, and I love it every time I walk in the room. The kitchen is screamin’ sunny yellow (yes, finally we’re home owners, is it obvious?), and the Polish pottery is colorful blue. Somehow I even like the juxtaposition of colorful food on my colorful plates. And I always wear a rainbow tie dye on a gloomy rainy day.
What a delicious-looking breakfast scramble! I planned ahead for our first dinner after a day driving home, but totally spaced on the need for breakfast foods the next morning. I think we had leftovers–nothing as fresh as this.
Tammy
/ December 19, 2013We have an outdoor sitting and lounging area the creates the most remarkable feelings. In that case, I think it’s more about the setting than the color but it’s amidst a lot of green and lovely. I love that you wear rainbow tie dye.
dayphoto
/ December 15, 2013I love color also! Although here we are muted colors of frost…blue, lavender and pink. Merry Christmas Tammy!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
¸.•*¨*•♪♫♫♪Merry Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
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Tammy
/ December 19, 2013Merry Christmas to you too Linda.