The Underappreciated Banana

According to this MSN.com feature, bananas are one of 5 foods that get a "bad rap" from the health conscious:

It's true that bananas are low in water compared to other fruits. That means there's more carbohydrate (and therefore more calories) per bite compared to watery fruits like melon. But—that doesn't mean you should shun them — even if you're watching your weight.

Bananas provide no fat, cholesterol, or sodium, and they’re incredibly nutritious.

You’ve probably heard that they're high in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. But they're also a good source of vitamin B6 (which helps maintain blood sugar levels and is needed to build protein in the body as well as nerves and immune cells), vitamin C (for immunity) and fiber (for cholesterol control and digestive health).

To keep calories in check, just choose "baby" bananas, the ones about the size of long fingers, which are naturally portion controlled (and neatly wrapped!). One of these little guys provides just 50-60 calories (less than a small apple) and amounts to about half a cup when sliced.