Sometimes the appearance of a food can draw you in. Bright orange fruits and veg, red fruits and veg. But one of the most seductive food colors has to be pink. It is an alluring color of food that just makes you want to eat it more.

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In this article, we are going to talk about twenty-nine pink foods and the health benefits of eating them. So, be prepared to learn everything you need to know about the vast array of pink foods we have on our list.

But before we can take a look at our pink foods we will need to cover a few things. So, let’s get started!

Quick Comparison

In this section, we are going to take a look at the caloric content of the pink foods we are looking at here today. So, without further ado, let us get started!

Beetroots | Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal |
Cripps Pink Apples | Calories Per Serving – 80 kcal |
Dragon Fruit | Calories Per Serving – 102 kcal |
Guava | Calories Per Serving – 68 kcal |
Grapefruit Juice | Calories Per Serving – 39 kcal |
Ham | Calories Per Serving – 145 kcal |
Hidden Rose Apple | Calories Per Serving – 25 kcal |
Highland Burgundy Red Apple | Calories Per Serving – 60kcal |
Himalayan Rock Salt | Calories Per Serving – 0 kcal |
Lilly Pilly Berries | Calories Per Serving – 325 kcal |
Lychees | Calories Per Serving – 66 kcal |
Mountain Apples | Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal |
Octopus | Calories Per Serving – 164 kcal |
Ornamental Kale and Cabbage | Calories Per Serving – 40 kcal |
Pink Banana Squashes | Calories Per Serving – 34 kcal |
Pink Oyster Mushrooms | Calories Per Serving – 28 kcal |
Pink Pearl Apples | Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal |
Pink Peppercorns | Calories Per Serving – 6 kcal |
Pink Radicchio | Calories Per Serving – 10 kcal |
Pomegranate | Calories Per Serving – 64 kcal |
Radish | Calories Per Serving – 16 kcal |
Rhubarb | Calories Per Serving – 21 kcal |
Rose Petals | Calories Per Serving – 0 kcal |
Rosé wine | Calories Per Serving – 125 kcal |
Salmon | Calories Per Serving – 208 kcal |
Shrimp | Calories Per Serving – 99 kcal |
Swiss Chard | Calories Per Serving – 35 kcal |
Tuna | Calories Per Serving – 132 kcal |
Turkish Delight | Calories Per Serving – 185 kcal |

Why Are Some Foods Pink?

Pink foods are stunning to look at and usually taste amazing. But, what makes food pink? Well, the reason for this natural phenomenon is because of the pigments in various foods.

These pigments are natural compounds that are known as anthocyanins and betalains. These compounds give off a pinkish color in the foods they are present in but did you know that they are not at all related and are not found in the same plant or animal?

Let’s Talk About Anthocyanins

This compound is a variety of flavonoid which typically has several functions within plants They have the ability to assist a plant look unappealing to herbivores that might come across it and think that this plant is safe to eat.

The coloring that anthocyanins give plants also makes them attractive to pollinators like bees and other insects which helps them to disperse seed and pollen which later on helps them to create more of their kind.

So if you find yourself drawn to a pink flower or plant and you have the desire to just…eat it…remember that you are falling prey to that plant’s devious ploy to draw in creatures to help it pollinate.

But these pink pigments are not only to make the food or plants look pretty. They are also very beneficial to our health when we consume them. Some of these health benefits include:

Antioxidants
Traps Free Radicals
Protects the Body from Excessive Inflammation
Reduces the Risk of Cancer Development
Antimicrobial Properties

But anthocyanins come in more colors than just pink. You can find plants with this compound that are red, blue, purple, and pink.

This compound also contains a natural pH indicator that will change color depending on whether the environment is acid or alkaline.

Let’s Talk About Betalains

This type of compound is most often red or pink and does NOT contain anthocyanins. Betalains are most often found in foods like cacti, beets, and swiss chard. You may notice that some cacti that are kept as houseplants will have beautiful fat pink foliage.

This coloring is due to the presence of betalains. If plants that have betalains are consumed there is a possibility that some humans will not be able to process it. This means that the compounds will turn urine pink or red when the pigment is excreted.

29 Foods That Are Pink

Finally, we can start looking at our list of foods that are pink. In this section, we are going to talk about pink foods, a bit about them, and what you can do with them. So, without further ado, let us get started!

Beetroots

Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal

Beets are full of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. The antioxidants are great for fighting against things like common carcinogens.

It is a very popular vegetable and is well known all around the world. It goes by many names including red beet, dinner beet, beetroot, and many others.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Waitrose’s Beetroot and Yogurt Salad and Able and Cole’s Rainbow Beetroot, Walnut, and Sheep’s Cheese Salad.

Pink Lady Apples

Calories Per Serving – 80 kcal

This type of apple is famous for being beautifully crisp and also having a gorgeous pink skin. It is known as the queen of apples and who could disagree. The sweet and sour balance is just perfect and it is full of vitamins that are very good for you.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Pink Lady Apple’s Poached Apple with Orange and Pomegranate and Celebrate Creativity’s Pink Lady Apple Pie.

Dragon Fruit

Calories Per Serving – 102 kcal

This fearsome-sounding fruit is also known as pitaya and it is a fruit that is grown from a cactus tree in Southern Asia and Central South America. These fruits are large, sweet, and absolutely stunning to look at.

They have beautiful pink skin and a pale inner with black seeds. If you have never tried dragon fruit you are totally missing out.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Outside’s Dragon Fruit and Lemony Chicken Salad and Veg Kitchen’s Dragon Fruit Smoothie.

Guava

Calories Per Serving – 68 kcal

Guava is a pink fruit that is related to the watermelon. It is a tropical fruit with juicy, sweet, and sour flesh that is simply divine. This fruit is chock-full of minerals, vitamins, and all kinds of goodness that are beneficial to your health.

In fact, it is known to help reduce the risk of diabetes due to the fact that it is super high in fiber and has a low glycemic index which helps to control blood sugar.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Recipe 52’s Guava Jam and Taste’s Tropical Fruit Salad with Spiced Guava Syrup.

Grapefruit Juice

Calories Per Serving – 39 kcal

Pink grapefruit juice is a super healthy drink that is refreshing, healthy, and very low in calories. It has high fiber content and is a favorite for people that have been trying to lose weight.

This pink drink is tasty, healthy, and pretty in pink. So, if you get the chance, make sure to give it a go.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are All Recipe’s Grapefruit Juice Smoothie and Savory Thought’s Haitian Grapefruit Juice.

Ham

Calories Per Serving – 145 kcal

Ham is a staple for many households. It is a flavorsome piece of meat that often has a delightfully pink color. It is a good source of protein and quite healthy to consume.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Jo Cooks’s Leftover Ham and Bean Soup and All recipe’s Not So Sweet Baked Ham.

Hidden Rose Apple

Calories Per Serving – 25 kcal

This is quite a rare variety of apples. It has a unique taste, almost like strawberry lemonade. It has pink flesh and is exquisitely crisp and juicy. This variety of apple is very hard to grow and needs specific conditions in order for the tree to produce fruit.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Side Chef’s Hidden Rose Apple Tarts and Eat’s Fried Hidden Rose Apples.

Highland Burgundy Red Potato

Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal

Most potatoes are plain and kind of brown in color. But the highland burgundy red potato has a beautifully marbled inside. The white and pink flesh makes it quite a stunning variety of potato that you simply have to try.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Morghew’s Highland Burgundy Red Potato Crisps.

Himalayan Rock Salt

Calories Per Serving – 0 kcal

This mineral is mostly mined in Pakistan where the mountains produce this beautiful pink crystal. It is a fantastic alternative to regular salt if you feel like using pink salt to season your meals.

Lilly Pilly Berries

Calories Per Serving – 325 kcal

This type of berry originates from South-East Asia and also Australia. They can be found in clusters on trees and are an extraordinary reddish-pink coloring that makes them absolutely stunning to see.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are AGFG’s Kakadu Plum and Lilly Pilly Smoothie Bowl and Thermomix’s Lilly Pilly Jam.

Lychees

Calories Per Serving – 66 kcal

Lychees have white flesh and a single pit inside. But the skin is a delightful shade is pinkish-brown which makes them look quite stunning. They are native to China and Southeastern Asia. Thai fruit has a delightfully sweet and almost floral taste that is just perfect.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Happy Foodie’s Lychee and Raspberry Tart and Lychee and BBC Good Food’s Rosewater Ice Cream.

Mountain Apples

Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal

Also known as Malay or Java apples, this variety of apples is native to Malaysia, Australia, and Indonesia. It is a delightfully tasty pink fruit that has gorgeous pink skin that just makes it stand out from the other types of apple.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Devour Asia’s Mountain Apple Salad with Hibiscus and Food and Wine’s Mountain Apple Pie.

Octopus

Calories Per Serving – 164 kcal

Octopus is a delicacy that has increased in popularity around the world. The tentacles have a tendency to have a delightful pink color that is quite striking. This type of meat is super healthy and includes omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy nutrients.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Great British Chef’s Pulpo Chancon and Cooking LSL’s Grilled Octopus.

Ornamental Kale And Cabbage

Calories Per Serving – 40 kcal

There is a wide variety of ornamental kale and cabbage that all belong to the same species. This plant often has leaves that are pink or purple in color.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are BBC Good Food’s Stir-Fried Festive Cabbage and Great Island’s Purple Kale and Pansy Salad.

Pink Banana Squashes

Calories Per Serving – 34 kcal

This pink food comes in a variety of colors including blue, pink, yellow, or even patterned. The flesh of this squash is normally orange. This vegetable is tasty and certainly something you need to try.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Just a Pinch’s Banana Squash Soup and Café Johnsonia’s Banana Squash and Coconut Curry.

Pink Oyster Mushrooms

Calories Per Serving – 28 kcal

This type of mushroom is a gorgeous soft shade of pink which gives it an absolutely gorgeous look. It is a great mushroom for vegetarians or vegans who would like to add a mildly chewy texture to their meals.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are The Sophisticated Caveman’s Pan-Fried Mushrooms and Be Wild’s Rigatoni with Mushrooms and Peas.

Pink Pearl Apples

Calories Per Serving – 60 kcal

Pink pearl apples originated in California many years ago. They are unique because of their vivid pink flesh and pale green or yellow skin.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top picks are Bojon the Gourmet’s Pink Pear Apple Cake and Constellation Inspiration’s Apple Custard Tart.

Pink Peppercorns

Calories Per Serving – 6 kcal

Peppercorns are one of our most common condiments. But did you know that peppercorns come in different colors and varieties?

Well, the pink peppercorn comes from a dried berry which has a mild peppery taste. But they are not from a normal pepper plant like Black or white pepper.

Pink Radicchio

Calories Per Serving – 10 kcal

This is a super rare form of lettuce that grows in Italy. It is a crisp, sweet, and mildly bitter plant that is just perfect in a salad.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Very Eatalian’s Pink Winter Salad.

Pomegranate

Calories Per Serving – 64 kcal

Pomegranates are a delicious, sweet fruit that is native to Asia. Its pink jewel-like flesh is absolutely stunning to see as well as delicious.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick has to be Jamie Oliver’s Pomegranate and Chicken Stew.

Radish

Calories Per Serving – 16 kcal

Radishes come in a variety of colors varying from red to shades of pink. They are a wonderful addition to a raw salad or cooked. Radishes are native to Europe and Southern Asia and have been eaten over the centuries because of their amazing taste and health benefits.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is The Real Food’s Garlic Roasted Radishes.

Rhubarb

Calories Per Serving – 21 kcal

Rhubarbs are a very versatile and tasty food that go fantastically well in pies, breads, cobblers, and other desserts. They have a beautiful pink-colored stem that really makes them look quite stunning.

Best of all rhubarbs are full of minerals and vitamins that will benefit you. So, make sure to eat some if you get the chance.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Del’s Cooking Twist’s Rhubarb Crumble Bar.

Rose Petals

Calories Per Serving – 0 kcal

Rose petals are a romantic choice for those of you who want something pretty, pink, and tasty in your desserts. It goes fantastically in jams, chutneys, and many other foods.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Cook Me’s Rose Petal Jam.

Rosé wine

Calories Per Serving – 125 kcal

Rosé wine is a mild yet delicious wine that is perfect for those of drinking age to enjoy on a date or at the end of a long day. The delightful pink tinge that the wine has really makes it fun to look at and fun to drink all at the same time.

Salmon

Calories Per Serving – 208 kcal

Salmon is a popular pink fish that we eat quite frequently in today’s culture. You can eat this fish in many different ways depending on your preference. But one thing stands true regardless, the pinkish hue of this fish is quite breathtaking no matter how you eat it.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Eating Well’s Spicy Salmon Sushi Roll-Up.

Shrimp

Calories Per Serving – 99 kcal

Shrimp is a famous seafood that many people find to be absolutely delicious. The pink color and taste of this sea crustacean are not all that make it such a great food. The fatty acids and omega-3 it provides can be a huge health benefit to many people.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Café Delites’ Creamy Garlic Shrimp and Parmesan.

Swiss Chard

Calories Per Serving – 35 kcal

Swiss chard has striking pink stems which really make it stand out in the leafy vegetable world. This tasty and nutritious food is perfect for healthy, refreshing summer dishes.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Great Island’s Rainbow Swiss Chard Salad.

Tuna

Calories Per Serving – 132 kcal

Tuna is a muscular fish with flesh that is a beautiful pink or reddish color. It is spectacularly tasty meat that provides all kinds of healthy vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to us humans.

Are you unsure how to use this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Izzy Cooking’s Fresh Tuna Steak.

Turkish Delight

Calories Per Serving – 185 kcal

This is not the healthiest pink food but the stunning pink color of the jelly in the center of Turkish delights deserved a mention on our list. Turkish delights are made using starch and sugar. On top of that, they are traditionally flavored with rose water.

Are you unsure how to make this food in your everyday life? There are plenty of fantastic recipes out there. Our top pick is Kitchen Mason’s Really Easy Turkish Delight.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we are going to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about pink foods and drinks. So, without further ado, let us get started!

What Are Some Pink Vegetables?

Some pink vegetables include swiss chard, radishes, rainbow carrots, and many others that we have mentioned in this article.

What Is Naturally Pink?

There are many naturally pink crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. There are also naturally pink fruit and vegetables which we have spoken about in this article.

What Fruits Are Pink?

There are many fruits that are pink some of which include dragon fruit, guava, pomegranates, and many others which we have and have not covered in this article.

29 Foods That Are Pink

Are you curious to find out what foods are pink? Learn everything you need to know about twenty-nine pink foods in this article.

Ingredients

Beetroots
Pink Lady Apples
Dragon Fruit
Guava
Grapefruit Juice
Ham
Hidden Rose Apple
Highland Burgundy Red Potato
Himalayan Rock Salt
Lilly Pilly Berries
Lychees
Mountain Apples
Octopus
Ornamental Kale And Cabbage
Pink Banana Squashes
Pink Oyster Mushrooms
Pink Pearl Apples
Pink Peppercorns
Pink Radicchio
Pomegranate
Radish
Rhubarb
Rose Petals
Rosé wine
Salmon
Shrimp
Swiss Chard
Tuna
Turkish Delight

Directions

Pick a recipe from the list above
Click the recipe name and visit the website
Collect the ingredients and cook the food
Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

Author
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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!