Fruits & Vegetables: Nutrition, Culinary Uses & Preservation

Variety comparisons and diverse culinary forms, such as juices or dried extracts, determine the nutritional value and physiological impact of plant-based diets on systemic health.

colorful mix of red,yellow and white beets

How to Cook White Beets

Farmer's markets and upscale groceries are fine places to find interesting and unusual vegetables, from exotic imports to variations on old familiar favorites. White beets fall into the second category, a pale vegetable that lacks the signature coloration of its commonplace cousins.

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Slices of apple

Banana Vs. Apple

Both bananas and apples are popular fruit choices among U.S. shoppers. They are also both readily available year round. Bananas and apples make healthy additions to any diet, as they each offer a variety of nutrients you need to keep your body healthy and lower your risk of disease.

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How to Cook Potatoes in a Pan

White, yellow, red and even purple, potatoes come in colors that might surprise you. Shapes and sizes differ as well, from huge 1-pound baking potatoes to new potatoes the size of marbles. Potatoes by themselves are good for you.

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Fresh zucchini at a farmer's market

How to Cook Large Zucchini

Zucchini vines are prolific producers, and an overabundance can result in zucchinis left on the vine, growing bigger every day. A fruit that cooks up as a vegetable, zucchini does not necessarily improve with size.

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How to Cook Broccoli Without a Steamer

Broccoli is a vegetable that is characterized by its vibrant green color, thick stalks and tightly packed florets. Broccoli is nutritionally dense, and plays an important role in any healthy diet. Broccoli is commonly included in meals as a side dish or as an ingredient in soups, salads and casseroles.

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How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in a NuWave Cooker

The NuWave Oven countertop device uses infrared technology to cook food. The result is meals that take less time to cook and that can be healthier for you since no oils or butter are needed. The NuWave Oven can cook a wide variety of food, including sweet potatoes.

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Blender with fresh vegetables on kitchen table

How to Make Your Own Vegetable Crackers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends incorporating vegetables into your diet to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and provide your body with the nutrients it needs for good health. Vegetable crackers can deliver some of the benefits of eating vegetables in a snack format that's convenient and tasty.

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Frozen vegetables

How to Cook Frozen Broccoli

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable high in vitamin C, vitamin A and a compound called sulforaphane that may protect you against cancer, according to Oregon State University.

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Cuban Cuisine: Green Plantian Banana Chips

Are Boiled Sweet Plantains Healthy?

Plantains resemble bananas and are part of the same family. These fruits are starchy and rather bland, with a low sugar content. And like bananas, they get sweeter as they ripen. Boiled, sweet plantains are nutritional powerhouses, filled with vitamins A and C, minerals such as potassium and a healthy helping of fiber.

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mixed vegetables on white plate on wooden background

How to Make Buttered Vegetables

Just as Mom always said, your vegetables are good for you; they are loaded with numerous nutrients. These foods can also be delicious and enjoyable, depending on what varieties you choose and how you cook them.

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Chicken Breast with lemon and coriander sauce

How Do I Make Lemon Pepper Sauce?

Lemon pepper is a well-known seasoning that home cooks can apply to everything from chicken to fish. Lemon pepper seasoning is widely used because its sweet lemon flavor is the perfect foil for the zing of the pepper. Those same flavors work well when enjoyed in a zesty, tangy lemon pepper sauce.

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roasted shiitake mushrooms on a plate

Do Mushrooms Have Carbs?

Carbohydrates are sugars in the food you eat that your body turns into glucose for energy. Think of carbohydrates as simple, such as in sweeteners added to processed foods, or complex, such as starches and fiber. Complex carbs are the “good carbs,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Young potatoes on the grill

How to Bake Potatoes on the Grill

Meat and potatoes go together like, well, meat and potatoes. Consolidate your cooking efforts and sear smoky goodness into your potatoes by grilling them while you grill your meat. Cook the potatoes entirely on your charcoal grill or quicken the grill time by partially cooking them before grilling.

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Vitamin, Nutrients & Health Benefits of Manzanilla Olives

Manzanilla olives are also called Spanish olives or green olives. They are native to Spain but are also grown in California. They range in color from brown to green and are typically found in jars at the supermarket. Some versions are stuffed with pimentos, garlic or almonds.

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What Happens When You Eat Grapefruit With Xanax?

Xanax, or alprazolam, is a member of the benzodiazepine family, which includes diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and midazolam. Benzodiazepines are used as sedatives, muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety agents and anti-convulsants. Some are used to enhance the effects of anesthesia.

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Close up of broccoli plant, Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu, Japan

How to Cook Fresh Broccoli in a Slow Cooker

Kids may not like broccoli, but its lush green florets are extremely beneficial to anyone’s diet as a source of vitamins C and A, potassium, fiber, calcium, folate, phosphorus and iron. It’s also a versatile vegetable that can be steamed, sautéed, stir-fried or eaten raw.

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Dried shiitake mushroom in transparent bowl with water

How to Cook Dried Shitake Mushrooms

Dried shiitake mushrooms keep at room temperature indefinitely, making them an attractive year-round alternative to fresh mushrooms. For most preparations, you'll need to rehydrate dried shiitake mushrooms first, then use them in whatever dish you are making.

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Jack cut in half.

How to Cook Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a fruit that grows up to 100 pounds on large trees in Malaysia, Thailand and other Pacific Rim countries. The fruit rind discourages predators with its prickly cones, probably one of the reasons along with its foul, ripened smell that the jackfruit is overlooked by some as a viable fruit to consume.

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Squash Vs. Sweet Potatoes

Squash and sweet potatoes are convenient, colorful vegetables that make healthy additions to any dish. Although they may not be traditional staples, they are rich in history, nutrition and taste. Consider them as an option to add wholesome variety at meal time.

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Adverse Reactions to Avocados

An avocado is a creamy fruit that is commonly used in Mexican cuisine, in salads and on burgers. Even though the fruit has various health benefits, eating it or applying it to your skin can cause adverse reactions. If you develop symptoms after eating or touching avocados, call your doctor immediately.

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