Zucchini

Zucchini is a slender summer squash made up mostly of water, which is exactly what makes it so useful for light, satisfying eating. It fills a plate with volume and gentle fiberThe part of plant foods your body can't fully break down — it keeps digestion moving. More → for very few calories, helping with comfortable fullness while keeping meals easy on the waistline.

Alongside that water and fiberThe part of plant foods your body can't fully break down — it keeps digestion moving. More → it brings potassium, a mineralA natural building block your body needs in small amounts, like calcium or magnesium. More → that helps balance sodium and supports healthy blood pressure, plus a little vitaminA natural substance your body needs in small amounts to stay healthy, like vitamin C or D. More → C. Mild and quick-cooking, zucchini happily absorbs the flavors of whatever it is cooked with, from herbs and garlic to tomato sauces, and can even stand in for noodles when spiralized.

Zucchini is among the safest, friendliest vegetables. The one genuine caution is rare: if a piece tastes strikingly bitter, discard it, as that bitterness signals natural cucurbitacin compounds that can upset the stomach.