A-Z of fruit and veg

For more exciting facts about fruit and veg, plus great ideas on how to eat your 5 A DAY, dive
into the Alphabet of fruit and Alphabet of vegetables on World Cancer Research Fund's new
Real Recipes website.
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AppleApple

Granny Smith, Royal Gala, Golden Delicious and Pink Lady are just a few of the thousands of
different kinds of apple that are grown around the world! You can make dried apple rings at
home - ask an adult to help you take out the core, thinly slice the apple and bake the rings in the
oven at a low heat.
Did you know you can cook apples? Try our delicious and healthy baked apples recipe.
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ApricotsApricot

Apricots can be eaten fresh or dried - both are packed with vitamins! Fresh apricots have a soft
and slightly furry skin. They make a good lunchbox snack. Apricots are also high in beta-
carotene - this helps us keep our eyes and skin healthy.
Do you know where apricots grow? Play our online game 'Where does it grow?' to learn where
apricots and other vegetables and fruit grow.
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AsparagusAsparagus

Asparagus is a shoot vegetable � we eat the stalk and the tip. It makes any dish look more

interesting with its unusual shape. Asparagus is a good source of a vitamin called folate, which is
important for healthy blood.
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AubergineAubergine
Most aubergines are teardrop-shaped and have a glossy purple skin. On the inside, they are
spongy and creamy white. Aubergines grow on bushes and are really fruits - although you
wouldn't want to eat them raw. Australians and Americans call it eggplant because some types
look a bit like large eggs!
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avocadoAvocado

It is sometimes called an avocado pear. Avocado is often mistaken for a vegetable because we
eat it like a salad vegetable, but it is actually a fruit. Avocados are at their best when they are ripe
and very easy to prepare. They can simply be cut in half with the stone removed and eaten with a
little salad dressing or chopped into a salad. Avocados are a good source of essential fats (the
good ones) - one of the few fruits or vegetables that contain fat.
Is avocado a fruit? Test your knowledge. Take our 'Olive-tastic' quiz on vegetables and fruit.
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BananaBanana

Bananas make a nutritious snack! They are a great source of energy and contain lots of
vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, which is important to help cells, nerves and muscles
in your body to work properly and it helps to lower blood pressure. They have a thick skin to
protect them, which is green before bananas are ripe, and get more yellow in colour and sweeter
in taste as they ripen. We peel away the skin and eat the soft fleshy part of the fruit underneath.
Bananas grow in hanging clusters, sometimes called hands, on the banana plant in tropical
regions like Southeast Asia. You can eat them raw, baked, dried or in a smoothie. Why don't you
try mashing it up and have it with yoghurt or porridge or even on brown toast?
Would you like to race a banana? Play our 'Beat the banana' online game and see if you can
beat Bertie to the finish line.
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Image - 4_1_1_beetroot.jpgBeetroot

Beetroot is the root of the beet plant - which explains its name! People have grown it for food
since Roman times. Raw beetroot is best for you and great for grating - peel it first. Try it in a
salad or sandwich. Small beetroots are usually the sweetest. Ahhhh!
 Did you know you can grow beetroot at home? Follow our guide to growing beetroot. It� s

fun and easy.

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Black-eye beanBlack-eye bean

In America, these beans are often called black-eyed peas or cow peas. They each have a little
black dot on the side - this is where they were once attached to their pod, so it's a bit like a belly
button! You can mix them with all sorts of other beans to make a super salad.
Playing beanbag games is a great way to stay active. Learn how to make a beanbag by
following our simple guide.
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broad beansBroad bean

Another name for this bean is the ‘Fava bean’. Broad beans grow in a green, leathery pod. The
beans can be eaten fresh, when they are green, or dried, when they have turned brown. The way
to identify them is by their flat, broad shape. Beans are a good source of protein and fibre.
Why not try growing a bean plant at home? It's easy with our step-by-step instructions.
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BroccoliBroccoli
Broccoli is closely related to cabbage - and it's another one of those 'greens' we're always
being told to eat up. The part of a broccoli plant we normally eat is the lovely flowerhead - the
flowers are usually green but sometimes purple. Steamed broccoli is tasty in a salad or stir-fry.
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Brussels SproutBrussels sprout
Brussels sprouts are like mini cabbages! They grow out of the ground in knobbly rows on a
long tough stalk. They contain loads of vitamin C. Can you guess which country BRUSSELS
sprouts originally came from? Well, Brussels is the capital city of Belgium!
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Butternut squashButternut Squash
 Butternut squash is large and pear-shaped with a golden-brown to yellow skin. We don't eat
the skin and seeds, only the flesh. The flesh is really hard when it is raw but it turns soft and
sweet when it is cooked. It can be roasted, pureed, mashed or used in soups or casseroles. It is a
good source of beta-carotene, which is turned into vitamin A in the body. Beta-carotene gives the
flesh its bright orange colour.

Keep warm in the winter! Try making Mixer� s butternut squash soup.

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CarrotsCarrot

Carrots grow underground and they can be used in all sorts of dishes - from casseroles to
cakes. Raw carrots are great to crunch on and they make a healthy juice, too. They contain lots of
beta-carotene - this helps us keep our eyes and skin healthy.
Use carrots to make Captain Carrot and other 'Funny face pizzas'.
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CherriesCherry
Cherries are stone fruits - just like their friends the apricots. A cherry tree can carry on
producing fruit for 100 years! Cherries grow from stalks in pairs. Ahhh! Sweet ones like the
Bing cherry are nicest on their own or in a fruit salad. Sour ones like Morello cherries are tastier
cooked.
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clementineClementine

This citrus fruit is the smallest of the tangerines. The skin of Clementines can be peeled away
easily and the segments don’t contain pips, which makes them a lot less messy to eat than some
other varieties. They smell so delicious and naturally sweet. They are often eaten at Christmas
time. Citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C.
Add segments of clementine to a fruit kebab for a fun way to eat fruit.
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ZucchiniCourgette
 A courgette is a type of squash and if it isn't picked early, it grows into a marrow! Courgettes
grow on bushes. They look quite like cucumbers and have very soft seeds. They can be cooked
with onions, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers to make ratatouille. The American name for a
courgette is 'zucchini'.
Courgettes count towards your 5 A DAY. Download our '5 A DAY bingo' game and have fun
playing bingo with your friends.
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DatesDate

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree and lots of them are grown in Egypt and California
(USA). Dried dates make a super sweet snack. They can be chopped and sprinkled on cereal
instead of sugar or honey.
We use dates in our mince pie recipe. Why not try making mince pies this Christmas?
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ElderberriesElderberry

These little, almost black berries grow on bushes all over the countryside in summer! They
aren't good to eat raw but they are berry nice cooked with other fruits in pies or used to make
jam!

WARNING: Some berries are poisonous, so don't pick them without checking with an adult
first. And never eat the leaves!
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EndiveEndive

Endive is a member of the lettuce family. It is shaped like a bulb and has leaves that overlap
each other - try peeling them off one by one to see how many there are. The leaves are a bit bitter
on their own but they are delicious in a salad mixed with sweet tomatoes and slices of orange.
Endive leaves have a bright yellow tip. You could use some to add even more colour to our
'Rainbow salad' recipe.
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FennelFennel

This vegetable tastes a bit like liquorice! Fennel is a plant that grows in the ground. A bulb
shape grows at the base of the plant, and this is the part that you eat. Raw fennel adds a super
crunchy taste to salads. You can also slice it and cook it like onion or celery to use in casseroles.
The feathery leaves and seeds add flavouring to cooking, just like herbs.
Discover when fennel grows by reading our quick guide to what's in season.
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FigsFig

Figs are soft sweet fruits, full of small seeds and often eaten dried. They grow on trees. Fresh
figs are delicious and jams and chutneys are often made from them. The skin of a fig is very thin
and ripe figs do not keep or travel very well so in warm countries figs are dried.
Have you ever tried figs? What other vegetables and fruit have you tried? Tell us on the 'I
tried' page.
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GarlicGarlic

Did you know garlic can help keep mosquitoes away?! And yes, garlic can make your breath
smell a bit... garlicky! We eat all different parts of plants and garlic is the bulb. Open it up and
you'll see lots of segments - or cloves - with a papery covering. You only need to use one or two
of these to add loads of extra flavour to a food.
Do you know what garlic looks like? Match up pairs of pictures in our fun online game and
discover interesting facts.
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GrapesGrape

Grapes grow in bunches on vines. On the inside, they are sweet, juicy and jelly-like. Green
grapes are also called white grapes and are dried to make sultanas. Purple ones can be called
black grapes and are dried to make raisins. There are red grapes too - red grape juice tastes
totally delicious!
 Did you know grapes are a healthy snack? Why not try making a 'Healthy snack holder'?
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Green beansGreen bean
French beans, runner beans, common beans, bobby beans, string beans, Thai beans, wax beans
and haricots verts are all names for different types of green bean. Wax beans aren't even green -
they can be yellow or purple! Green beans are picked when they are very young - they should be
bright in colour and firm. If the pods are bendy, they won't taste sweet and crunchy! To eat the
beans, the ends should be chopped off - this is called topping and tailing. They only need to be
cooked in boiling water for a few minutes then they are ready to eat. In France, they are often
eaten in a salad with potatoes and tuna. Ask an adult to help you make one! Green beans are a
good source of fibre, which helps keep your tummy healthy. They also contain beta-carotene,
which helps us keep our eyes and skin healthy.
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GuavaGuava

The guava fruit is widely grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It can be
round to pear-shaped with a thin skin that is green and turns yellow as it ripens. The flesh can be
white or even pink, and the seeds can be eaten. The guava fruit contains lots of beta-carotene
(which forms vitamin A in the body) and vitamin C. The flesh can make a great snack or dessert
chopped up, or scooped straight from the skin.
Did you know Guava is yellow? Download our yellow plant foods factsheet to learn more
about yellow vegetables and fruit.
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Haricot beansHaricot bean

These little beans are white and grow all over the world. Baking them gives you baked beans -
the beans are cooked in a tomato sauce. Try them on toast for breakfast. Beans are good for
giving you energy.
Haricot beans are a pulse. Learn about other seeds and pulses with Searcher.
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Honeydew melonHoneydew melon
 Honeydew melons grow on trailing vines along the ground. There are THOUSANDS of
different kinds of melon - they all have a hard outside, which you can't eat, and a juicy sweet
inside that makes your mouth water!
Our delicious 'Rainbow fruit salad' uses melon. Why not try making it?
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Iceberg lettuceIceberg lettuce

There are many, many kinds of lettuce to choose from. Iceberg has a cool, crisp taste. It adds
lots of crunch to a sandwich! Other types of lettuce can be curly, dark green or even red! Iceberg
lettuce leaves can make a good wrapper for other foods - try wrapping one around a piece of
cheese or a boiled egg.
Grow your own lettuce leaves!
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Jerusalem artichokeJerusalem artichoke
The knobbly Jerusalem artichoke is related to the pretty sunflower. But it isn't a type of
artichoke and it doesn't come from Jerusalem! The bit of it we eat is an ugly little tuber (like a
small thin potato). The yummy white flesh inside tastes amazing.
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KiwiKiwi fruit

A kiwi fruit is hairy on the outside and soft in the middle. It is one of the only fruits to be
green when it is ripe. You can scoop out the juicy green flesh with a spoon just like a boiled egg!
One kiwi fruit contains all the vitamin C you need for a whole day. Vitamin C helps your body to
heal cuts and bruises and to fight colds.
We have lots of ideas for activities and games, including our fun 'Kiwi and spoon race'.
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leekLeek

These are in the same family as onion and garlic – they are allium vegetables. Leeks need to
be washed well to remove any dirt and grit between the white sections. You can boil or steam
leeks to add to a recipe or stir-fry them with other vegetables. They are in season in the UK. over
the winter months and are a good source of fibre.
Our leek and potato soup is simple and tasty.
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LemonLemon

Lemons were used on ships of famous explorers – the vitamin C stopped sailors from getting a
disease called scurvy. You can squeeze out the juice and mix it with water to make a zingy drink.
Did you know you can make invisible ink using a lemon? Have fun pretending to be a secret
agent.
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MangoMango

Mangoes come in different shapes and sizes. You have to peel off the skin to eat the soft, juicy
flesh inside. Mangoes grow best in hot countries like India and Malaysia. There are more than
2,500 different kinds of mango in the world!
Our 'Traffic light lollies' recipe uses mango to make the orange light. What type of fruit do
you think we use for red and green?
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MelonMelon

There are many types of melon; honeydew, cantaloupe and galia, to name a few. The flesh of
these different melons, which is the bit we eat, comes in different colours; cantaloupe is usually
orange because it is high in beta-carotene, honeydew is usually pale-green to yellow and galia is
usually a deeper green. Unlike what its name may indicate, the watermelon is not actually a
melon, just a distant relative of the melon. Its flesh is usually pink as it is high in the antioxidant,
lycopene. Melons grow off a vine, and have a strong outer skin to protect them, which we don't
eat. Melon goes great chopped up in a fruit salad, adding lots of colour and flavour. It is very
refreshing as a snack in the hot summertime too!
We use melon in our exciting 'Pirate party food' recipe. Why not try making some?
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MushroomMushroom

Although mushrooms are not fruits or vegetables (they are actually a type of fungus), they still
count as one of your 5 A DAY. They are tasty on toast with scrambled egg and a grilled tomato.

WARNING: Picking wild mushrooms is not safe! Only an expert can tell which ones are
poisonous.

Make cute cat faces with our 'Purrfect mushrooms' recipe. It� s delicious, healthy and fun.

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NectarineNectarine

Nectarines are a type of peach with a thin smooth skin and firm flesh. The skin of a peach is
more furry but the fruit tastes almost exactly the same. You have to be very gentle with them -
they can bruise, just like you do, and the fruit will go bad where the bruise is.
You can use nectarines in a fruit salad or you could try making our fun 'Tutti-frutti sundae'.
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NutsNut

Your brain looks like a giant walnut. To make it grow it needs protein, which is found in nuts!
A nut is actually a fruit, or the seed of a fruit. There are lots of different kinds but they all have a
hard, dry shell around a kernel (the part of the nut you eat). A Brazil nut tree can live for 500
years!

WARNING: Children under 5 should not be given whole or chopped nuts due to risk of
choking. And please don't eat nuts if you are allergic to them!
'Can you crack it?' Try our fun online game and see if you can match all the nuts with their
shells.
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OlivesOlive
 Olives are really fruits and they grow on trees. If green olives are left on the tree, they turn
black. Have you had them on a pizza? Olives come in many sizes and flavours so you may need
to try lots of different ones to find out which ones you like best.
Take the 'Olive-tastic' quiz. How much do you know about olives and other vegetables and
fruit?
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OrangeOrange
Oranges are really famous - they are one of the most popular fruits in the world! Oranges grow
best in countries such as Spain and Italy - where it's hot and sunny during the day and cooler at
night. A glass of pure orange juice counts as one of your 5 A DAY. Try cutting an orange into
quarters and freezing it to make a healthy icy treat!
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PeasPea

Petit pois, mangetout, sugar snap and marrowfat are all fancy names for different types of pea.
Thousands of tonnes of garden peas are grown in the United Kingdom every year to make frozen
peas. A bag of these can come in handy if you've had a bump, but eating them is best of all!
Sprinkle some over a salad a few minutes before serving for a cold crunchy taste.
You could use peas to make one of our funny 'Potato faces'.
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PeanutsPeanut

If you buy peanuts in their shells, they are often called monkey nuts - they are given this name
because monkeys are thought to love them! Birds and squirrels like them too. Peanuts belong to
the same family as peas and beans and grow underground.
Nuts make a healthier snack than crisps or chocolate. Learn more about nuts and dried fruit.
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PearPear
Which fruits always travel in groups of two? Answer: pears! Pears are from the same family as
apples but they are softer. They can be yellow, green, reddish or brown on the outside but they
all have white, juicy flesh inside. One of the best-loved English pears is called Conference.
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PeppersPepper

Peppers can be red, yellow, green or orange - some are even white or purple! If you don't like
the way one colour tastes, you might like another. The green ones are less sweet - red peppers are
actually ripened green peppers.
Red peppers are a really delicious snack to have in your packed lunch. Plan your packed
lunches with our online game.
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PineapplePineapple

It can take TWO YEARS to grow a pineapple. This rough, spiky fruit is actually made up of
lots of smaller fruits that have stuck together. It was given its name because early explorers
thought it looked like a pine cone. You could use the skin of a pineapple as a bowl to eat your
fruit salad!
Try making this delicious pineapple dip recipe, and other 'Tasty dips from around the world'.
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PumpkinPumpkin

Pumpkins are orange on the outside, and also on the inside. Although we associate pumpkins
with Halloween decoration, they are actually a tasty vegetable too (but we don't eat the outside,
just the flesh inside) and they are related to the cucumber. They can be boiled, baked, roasted or
mashed and make delicious soups and even pumpkin pie! They have plenty of beta-carotene,
which is turned into vitamin A in our bodies. It is the beta-carotene that give pumpkins their
orange colour. There is another part of the pumpkin we use too! Pumpkin seeds can be roasted
and eaten as a tasty snack, or sprinkled over yoghurt, and are a good source of essential fatty
acids (the good fats).
Get ready for Halloween. Make a pumpkin lantern. Keep the seeds and roast them to make a
tasty snack.
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QuinceQuince
 This fruit comes from the same family as the pear, but it can't be eaten raw. Slices of quince
taste lovely in an apple crumble. Quince smells of perfume when it's been cooked, which means
that some people also use it as an air freshener for their home or car! Why don't you ask an adult
if you can try doing the same?
Do you know what a quince looks like? Play our online quiz to see if you can guess the
vegetables and fruit from the pictures.
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RadishesRadish

While some radishes are small and red, others are large and white - and shaped like carrots.
Some of the red ones have pretty names like Cherry Belle and Scarlet Globe. Radishes give salad
a real ZING! They have a peppery taste and are really crunchy.

Radishes make salads colourful and crunchy. Grow your own at home. The best time to grow
them is between March and September.
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RaisinsRaisin

Nearly half of all the world's raisins come from California - that's in America. Raisins start off
as black grapes. The grapes are turned into raisins by drying them in the sun. Sultanas are made
the same way but with green grapes. Mini boxes of raisins are perfect for packed lunches.
Impress your friends with the 'Incredible dancing raisin' magic trick. Make raisins magically
dance in water.
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RhubarbRhubarb

Rhubarb was used in Asia long before it was first eaten in Britain. People sometimes grew it in
their gardens just because it looked nice! It can be mixed with sweeter fruit like apple. Don't eat
the leaves, they are poisonous!
 Rhubarb is lovely stewed on its own, but you could also use it in a delicious pancake topping.
Try our healthy pancake recipe.
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SatsumaSatsuma

Satsumas, clementines and mandarins are all different names for types of tangerine. They
grow on trees and they grow best in warm weather. The juiciest ones are the heaviest ones. See if
you can take the peel off in one piece!
Don't throw away the net your satsumas come in! You can use it to make a fun microphone.
Learn to make other musical instruments too.
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StrawberryStrawberry

Anyone for tennis? Followed by some strawberries of course! Around 25,000kg of

strawberries are eaten at Wimbledon each year. Strawberries are actually members of the rose
family. They are the only fruits to have their seeds on the outside - one strawberry can have as
many as 200.
You can turn strawberries into a cool, tasty treat. Try making our icy 'Strawberry granita'
recipe.
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Sweet potatoSweet potato

These top tubers grow best in tropical places where the weather is warm. They are famous for
appearing in lots of Caribbean recipes! They come in all kinds of knobbly shapes and just like
the name suggests, they are sweeter than ordinary potatoes. Try them baked - or boiled and
mashed with carrots.
Sweet potatoes make yummy wedges. Why not try our tasty 'Root vegetable wedges' recipe?
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TomatoTomato
 Ask a friend if they think a tomato is a fruit or vegetable and see if they know the answer (it's
a fruit!). The little cherry tomatoes are sweet and tasty in salads or in your lunchbox. Tomatoes
are easy to grow in a pot in the garden. Buy some seeds and have a go!
Tomatoes are delicious in sandwiches. We have lots of ideas for tasty sandwich fillings. Try

making � Monster crunch' or 'Peter Pig'.

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TurnipTurnip

According to folklore, turnips were used as jack o' lanterns long before pumpkins! The turnip
is sometimes muddled up with its bigger relative, the swede. Both are lovely cooked in a stew, or
boiled then mashed, or roasted. Raw turnip can be grated into a salad.
Use the ends of your turnip to 'Grow root islands'. Try this fun activity to grow little trees in
water.
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Ugli fruitUgli fruit

An Ugli fruit is a cross between a grapefruit and a mandarin! It is about the size of a grapefruit
but it tastes a bit sweeter and has a wrinkly skin that peels easily. This funky fruit comes from
Jamaica and is also grown in the USA - and it's not that ugly! It can look a bit weird because its
yellowy green skin is thick, rough and puffy - and sometimes a bit blotchy!

Doesn� t ugli fruit have a funny name? If you like doing funny things, play our 'Funny food

figures' online game.

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Victoria plumVictoria plum

Plums come in all sorts of colours but Victoria plums are dark red and are grown in England.
They are super sweet eaten raw or can be cooked in tarts and crumbles. Plums have a stone
inside. Can you think of other fruits that do?
Do you know which country grows the most plums? Play 'Fruits and vegetables around the
world' to learn more.
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Vine leafVine leaf

This is a leaf from the vines that grapes grow on - and these leaves CAN be eaten! They are
picked when they are quite young and then cooked slightly to soften them. They are used like a
wrapping paper to make little parcels filled with things such as rice or finely chopped vegetables.

There are some leaves you can� t eat! But you could use them to make a leaf mask. A great

idea for a fancy dress costume.

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WatercressWatercress
Watercress is grown in water! Give mum or dad a top tip - it will last longer in the fridge if it
is kept in a bowl or jar of water. It is tastiest in the three "S"s - salads, sandwiches and soups. Try
saying that quickly!
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XiguaWatermelon
Watermelons grow along the ground and they can be ENORMOUS. They contain lots of
water and are really, really refreshing! In China, children love drinking watermelon juice in
summer to help them stay cool. The Chinese name for a watermelon is xigua.
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YamYam
The skin of a yam is thick and rough like the bark of a tree! Yams are a bit like potatoes but
their flesh can be white, yellow or even purple. They come from hot countries in the Caribbean
and Africa, where people often mash them up and eat them in spicy stews and soups. A yam can
grow to be heavier than a human adult!
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courgetteZucchini
Zucchini is the American name for a courgette. You can find more information on courgettes
on this page. Take a look!