The familiar green winter squash with orange flesh called acorn squash gets its name from its deep green ridges, as well as its wide top that gradually tapers to a narrow bottom. Combining the squash with butter and syrup highlights its sweet taste.

Red raspberries are delicious sources of high levels of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. Unfortunately, certain individuals suffer allergic reactions to red raspberries, leading to several unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms.

Bell peppers make a flavorful side dish or snack, and roasting them in the oven helps draw out the rich flavors of these colorful vegetables. Peppers are low in calories, and provide a good source of vitamins A and C, according to the University of Illinois Extension.

When you need a quick snack to fuel up, a fruit smoothie provides a nutrient-rich option. Adding a cup of fresh grapes to the blender gives the smoothie a sweet flavor and helps you meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s daily recommendation of 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit each day.

Baked potatoes are a common side dish at the dinner table because they are easy to prepare and have a delicious flavor. Traditional recipes for baked potatoes require an hour or more in a conventional oven, but you don’t always have an hour to prepare a complete meal for your family.

Collard greens are a healthy food chock full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They help lower cholesterol and detoxify the liver, according to Dr. Kevin Weiland in his book, "The Dakota Diet: Health Secrets from the Great Plains."

Bok choy is a staple of many Asian dishes and particularly of Chinese food, where it's a common element of many stir-fry dishes. It's a member of the cabbage family and has thick white stalks and dark green leaves. Baby bok choy, a smaller variety, is more tender than the mature version of the vegetable.

Try your microwave as a fast and easy alternative to baking or frying when you want to cook apple slices. You can eat the cooked apples plain right out of the microwave, or use them to make anything from applesauce to microwave apple crisp.

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.

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.

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.

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.