For food, try growing things that you would eat the leaves of (leaf lettuce, kale, endive, mesclun). Green onion sets might be another thing that would grow there. Anything that needs to flower to produce food (tomatoes for example) or if you eat the actual buds (broccoli, cauliflower) wouldnt be good choices at all.

For something pretty, try impatiens and begonias. It also sounds like a good place to let your houseplants spend the summer. Most of them really resent direct sunlight.

Some German Ivy would do well for greenery and is easy to control it's growth.

Grow some mary jane indoors with a grow lamp ;)

I have an apartment with a porch that only gets sunlight from 6:00am - 7:30am. I've tried planting and growing everything but they all just die. Is there anyone who can help me who have suggestions as to what I can do? Thanks