Did you know that melons are a vegetable, not a fruit? They’re in the gourd family, making them related to squashes and cucumbers. This week, we’ve decided to highlight the sweetest of all the melons: the honeydew.

They were highly esteemed as a sacred food by the ancient Egyptians (the beauty gurus of the ancient world) and recommended by Dr. Perricone has a healthy snack on the anti inflammatory diet. As a beauty food, they rank highly. Rich in copper, which helps to repair damaged muscle and cell tissues, Honeydew also have a high water content which helps hydrate the body from the inside out.

Picking a melon can be difficult, thanks to it’s hard shell.

1. For starters, look at the skin. Make sure it’s a golden or creamy, yellow color and firm with a bit of softness.
2. If it feels waxy and smells sweet, those are also good signs.
3. Lastly, perform the thump test. Lightly knock on the melon, a hollow sound is no good, but a slightly deep sound is a thumbs-up. Generally, if it weighs about 5 pounds it will have more flavor.

Which types of melons are your favorites?

Katharina Knoll, a Manhattan-based food and art enthusiast has prepared a series of anti-inflammatory recipes celebrating simple, rustic foods. Enraptured by the intersection of health and nutrition, Kat is the founder and director of Behind Foods. Follow Kat on her blog, Katharina’s Food Adventures, and keep in touch through her Facebook fan page and Twitter