Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi looks like a small green or purple spaceship but is simply a swollen cabbage stem, and it carries the cabbage family's gifts in a crisp, mild, slightly sweet package. A single bulb delivers most of a day's vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → C to support the immune systemYour body's built-in defense team that fights off germs and helps you heal. More →, along with soluble fiberThe part of plant foods your body can't fully break down — it keeps digestion moving. More → for steady digestionHow your body breaks food down into pieces small enough to use for energy. More → and healthier cholesterol, and a good dose of potassium.

Raw, peeled and cut into sticks, it is juicy and refreshing like a cross between an apple and a radish; roasted or steamed, it turns tender and sweet. Cooking also gentles the gas-forming fibers and softens the natural goitrogens, a small kindness for sensitive stomachs and thyroids.