Believe it or not, the common carrot has been around for 2,000 years. This member of the parsley family is packed with beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A. You probably know that vitamin A is good for your eyes and that it helps protect against cataracts and age-related vision loss. But did you know vitamin A also helps fight heart disease and cancer?

In addition, studies suggest that the vitamin A in carrots may help keep blood sugar at safe levels and that a type of fiber in them may help lower cholesterol.

Besides their nutritional value, carrots are versatile. You can serve them raw with dipping sauces, grate them for salads, steam, boil and microwave them, and add them to stir-fries, casseroles, soups and stews.

Look for carrots that are young and slender with no cracks. Much of a carrot’s flavor and nutrition is in the peel, so it’s best not to remove it. Just scrub carrots and rinse lightly.

If you choose to peel carrots, there are two methods:

• Use a vegetable peeler
• Boil water and drop the carrots in. Remove the pot from heat and let the carrots stand for two to three minutes. Then, drop them into a bowl of ice water. When the carrots are cool, use your fingers to rub off the skin. This method is especially good when you have a lot of carrots to peel.

Choose packaged carrots that are already sliced, shredded or cut in thin strips. You can also buy packages of baby carrots, which don’t require peeling and are great to serve with dips.

Here are a few tips to keep your carrots fresh:

• Store them in a plastic bag in your refrigerator’s vegetable bin
• Keep carrots stored away from apples in the fridge, because apples give off a gas that can make carrots bitter
• If you’re using carrots in stir-fries or other dishes that combine several foods, put them in boiling water for a few minutes and then plunge them into ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. You can dry and store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator until you’re ready to add them to the dish.
• To re-crisp limp carrots, soak them in ice water for 30 minutes

With all of the ways you can prepare and serve carrots, keeping them on hand for lunch, dinner dishes and snacks is a great way to save time and eat healthy.