This might be the best tasting fish so far, when I want a stronger taste. Most people don't like this many bones, so that keeps the price low. For the vegetables, I washed them first. Without holes they say some vegetables can explode in a microwave. For eggplant, look for bright color, smooth skin, firm texture, and no physical damage.
Dry stems indicate older produce.
On the snow peas, for myself, I just cut off the tips. For company, you might want to de-string them and cut them fancy. Check both sides for physical damage. If you cook large and small peas together, the small ones can over cook before the big ones are tender. Sometimes you can't avoid different sizes, and it's better split then into two batches and cook them different times.