(Maren Caruso/Stone via Getty Images) Whether served in a casserole, almondine or roasted with garlic, green beans are sure to make an appearance on many a table this holiday season. And unlike many of the tempting treats that make up holiday meals, the green bean is one item that’s not usually served with a side…

(jirkaejc/iStock via Getty Images) “How do you feel about black licorice?” sounds like a question for starting a simple chat at a Halloween party – or a silly internet fight. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it candy that inspires intense opinions. But if you ask a health expert, expect a serious conversation – because eating lots of black…

(Arx0nt/Moment via Getty Images) Lea en español Let’s admit it: Oatmeal is a total nerd. It lacks fashion sense – the color they named after it is somewhere on the drab side of beige. It’s often seen with Sesame Street’s Bert, who also loves bottle caps, paper clips and pigeons. But when it comes to…

(Rudy Malmquist/Moment via Getty Images) Typically in season from July to September, peaches are a staple of summertime salads, meals and desserts. They’re also a popular choice for nutritionists, who say their sweet taste makes it easier for people to add them to their diet. “They’re in season for a fairly short time, so enjoy…

(InspirationGP/iStock via Getty Images) On the screen, bananas are a menace. Just ask Charlie Chaplin, Bugs Bunny or anyone who’s played Mario Kart. In your diet, though, bananas can be a boon. Experts have a bunch of reasons to like them and see only a few ways the elongated yellow fruit could cause your health…

(Science Photo Library, Getty Images) Lea en español What do blueberries, spinach and dark chocolate have in common? They’re all rich in flavonoids, the chemical compounds found in plants that give them color – and medicinal powers. Research shows flavonoids provide a wide range of health benefits, from fighting cancer and lowering the risk for…

(Deborah Pendell/Moment, Getty Images) Whether it’s their heart shape, their seductive coloring or just the fact they make such sweet company, strawberries often are associated with romance. And if strawberries be the food of love – eat on, experts say. Strawberries not only taste good, they come with benefits that make them easy to embrace,…

(Arx0nt/iStock, Getty Images) There are a lot of health factors to keep in mind as we navigate through the dietary day: calories, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, vitamins and minerals, to name a few. Did you forget fiber? A lot of people do. “We’ve known this forever, and it has to get rediscovered all the time,”…

(tvirbickis/iStock, Getty Images) Lea en español For thousands of years, people have picked up chile peppers to provide their diets with pizazz. There’s no doubt chile peppers are packed with flavor. They also provide a little fiber without salt, sugar, saturated fat or many calories, said professor Linda Van Horn, chief of the nutrition division…

(stockphototrends/iStock, Getty Images) The notion of biting into a bug or chewing on a cricket might make some people a bit squeamish. Don’t squash the idea until giving this food some thought. Some 2 billion people around the world already eat insects to supplement their diet, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization….