Try some new fruits and veggies this summer

It’s hardly news that fruits and vegetables are good for you. The real news is why. More and is being learned about how fresh produce, beyond its rich stores of vitamins and minerals, can supply us with substances that help ward off many illnesses.

To enjoy a full mix of foods that help fight disease, pick a variety of colors from the produce bin. It's easy to get into a rut and eat the same favorites every day. Break out of your comfort zone and try some less familiar produce, if available in your local grocery store or farmers market, this growing season.

Some less familiar fruits and veggies to enjoy:

• Beets
• Bok choy
• Celery root
• Collard greens 
• Dandelion greens
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Kohlrabi 
• Leeks 
• Morel mushrooms
• Pluots and apriums (hybrids of an apricot and plum) 
• Rhubarb
• Persimmon
• Swiss Chard
• Turnip

This recipe featuring figs makes a light, summery end to any meal:

Fresh figs with walnuts and mascarpone

Serves 6

¼ cup chopped walnuts
12 ripe figs
2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese or whipped cream cheese
Pinch of ground nutmeg
¼ cup honey

Put the walnuts in a small, dry frying pan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer immediately to a plate to cool. Slice the stems off the figs. Cut an X in the top of each fig, cutting down into the fruit about 1 inch. Carefully squeeze each fig from the bottom to open it slightly. Spoon ½ teaspoon of the cheese into the opening of each fig and sprinkle with nutmeg. To serve, divide the figs among individual plates. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts and drizzle each serving with 2 teaspoons of honey.

By Mayo Clinic Health System staff