We all know we should be eating healthier, and thankfully there are lots of nutritious foods that are pretty easy to grab and munch. You might think just having those health foods around would be enough, but it turns out better eating can be a bit more complicated. Did you know that there’s actually a wrong way to eat several of our nutritional favorites? Check out this list, courtesy of Pop Sugar, of six foods you’ve been eating wrong your whole life.

1. Apples
   
   Kabsik Park via Flickr
   
   We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but would it surprise you to discover it should be an apple peel a day? Keep the skin on to keep the benefits of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, folate and iron!
2. Beans
   
   Rebecca Siegel via Flickr
   
   The danger with beans is not the way you’re cooking them, but the way you’re buying them. Canned beans are convenient, but too often those cans come high in salt and BPA, a chemical linked to cancer, heart disease and even early puberty. Protect yourself by buying BPA-free brands or soaking and boiling your own.
3. Broccoli
   
   whologwhy via Flickr
   
   Boiled broccoli is one of the first veggies a lot of us learn to cook, but it turns out that method actually strips nutrition away. Instead, try eating it raw or lightly steaming or sautéing it.
4. Dried Fruit
   
   Itinerant Tightwad via Flickr
   
   This one’s an easy fix— avoid sugar! Lots of brands add the white stuff to their dried fruit to try to make it tastier, but it takes away from the nutritional benefit. Grab the sugar-free brands or make your own for some easy, healthy snacks.
5. Peanut Butter
   
   Dan McKay via Flickr
   
   Who hasn’t grabbed a jar of peanut butter for everything from snacks to desserts to lunches? There’s a great benefit to this protein-rich food, but the added sugars, salts and hydrogenated oils can tip it more toward an indulgence than a health food. Switch to a natural brand, or even try making your own!
6. Sweet Potatoes
   
   Kim Knock via Flickr
   
   Steaming, not frying, should be your watchword here! While we all love a good sweet potato fry, that method adds fat and calories. Boiling can be dangerous too, unless you’re really good at resisting the temptation to add butter and brown sugar. To guarantee yourself the benefits of the fiber and antioxidants, try steaming diced chunks or simply baking them. If you must have fries, make the oven-baked version.

Did any of these surprise you? How do you make sure you balance flavor with health?