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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.