There’s a whole wonderful world of veggies out there.

While there’s nothing wrong with eating the classics, stretching out of your vegetable comfort zone will expand your taste buds and your health!

In fact, research shows that increasing the variety of vegetables in your diet can help reduce your risk of heart disease — and even improve your overall quality of life.

Without further ado, here are 3 unique and nutritious vegetables to up your cooking game:

Daikon

This winter radish is popular in Asian dishes. It has a crunchy texture and a mild, peppery flavor. It kind of looks like a big white carrot. 

Daikon is low in calories and packed with nutrients including vitamin C, copper, potassium, and folate. It also contains high amounts of plant compounds such as glucosinolates that act as antioxidants and may have anticancer properties. 

You can eat it raw, use it as a garnish, or toss it a soup, salad, or stirfry. 

Taro Root

This root is a perfect stand-in for potatoes or other starches. It’s an excellent source of fiber, vitamin E and B, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese. 

Taro root is extremely beneficial for digestive health; it is considered one of the best sources of dietary fiber in the world. 

Studies show that taro fiber acts as a prebiotic and can boost immune health. 

Fiddleheads

Fiddleheads are a foodie favorite. These young ferns are super rich in nutrients, plant compounds, and vitamins. 

They contain carotenoid plant pigments that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may protect against certain cancers and eye diseases. 

Fiddleheads are also extremely delicious; add them to stirfries, soups, and pastas.