We invest a lot of money in our fresh fruits and vegetables and overall produce purchases each week. When preparing these items, we often throw away half of the apple or other weird parts on the product themselves and discard before cooking. The truth is you aren't just tossing a few dollars in the garbage, but you're also throwing away some serious nutritional benefits. 

Far too often, these forgotten spare parts come jam-packed with vitamins and heart-saving amino acids and if they're not discarded to quickly, you can reap surprising rewards. Here are 5 to stop trashing and start eating. 

1. Cantaloupe Seeds have hidden powers, so to speak. Most often, they're the first to go when they crack open a melon but they're high in protein, fiber, vitamin E and magnesium. The way to eat them? Roast in the oven, tossed with a little olive oil —trust us, you'll never thrown them away again.

2. Onion Skins have a hidden nutrient -quercetin which is a compound that aids in lowering blood pressure and supports a healthy immune system. Add them to your stews or broths for a flavor punch. As an added bonus, they help support a healthy immune system. 

3. Watermelon Rinds contain the highly beneficial amino acid, citrulline which helps improve blood flow. Try blending them with the watermelon flesh, strawberries and a dash of orange juice for a refreshing smoothie. 

5. Celery Tops are super flavorful and full of muscle-building magnesium, along with tons of vitamin C and calcium for strong bones. Utilize them similar to an herb and add to a vegetable or chicken soup.

6. Orange Peels smell delicious but they're also rich in digestive system-soothing fiber and vitamin C for boosting the immune system. Use a cheese grater or zester to extract the zest which has the most organ flavor atop both savory and sweeter dishes.