What’s the Difference Between Fruits and Vegetables?

Fruits and vegetables are sometimes lumped together as a culinary category, yet they differ in several ways. In reality, many of the veggies you grew up eating are probably fruits. Seriously. They are both produce and include diverse nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, yet many of the vegetables you’ve always known and loved are actually fruits. And we are not just talking about tomatoes.

Here’s how to tell the difference between fruits and veggies so you may be more informed about the plants you eat.

Botanical Distinctions Between Fruits and Vegetables

The main difference between fruits and vegetables is how fruits come from the flowering part of a plant and contain seeds. Vegetables, on the other hand, are edible plant parts that may include leaves, stems, and roots.

Fruits include plant foods with seeds such as cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, strawberries, and mangoes. Vegetables include foods like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, and carrots that do not contain seeds.

Nutritional Distinctions Between Fruits and Vegetables

Consuming both fruits and vegetables is part of a balanced diet, because each food type (and particular fruit or vegetable) provides its own set of nutrients. Red and pink foods, for example, include lycopene, an antioxidant that promotes bone health, can help maintain healthy blood pressure, and improves skin health, among other benefits. Cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale) are known to be high in folate and vitamin K, which aids in blood clotting.

Are fruits healthier than veggies?

According to a 2019 study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine that examined the ten most often consumed vegetables and fruits, vegetables may have a minor advantage. However, it truly varies. The study discovered that, while vegetables had a higher Aggregate Nutrient Density Index and included fewer calories, sugar, and fiber than fruits, fruits had more antioxidants.

In other words, fruits and vegetables are both healthy, but which group you should eat more of depends on the precise nutrients your body requires, which might change over time and are influenced by the rest of your diet.

Culinary Distinctions Between Fruits and Vegetables

If you frequently cook with fruits and vegetables, you are probably aware that the two have distinct culinary characteristics. Fruits, for example, can be eaten raw, whereas many vegetables require cooking to be absorbed properly. Raw fruits like zucchini carpaccio, avocado toast, tomato salad, and smashed cucumbers are easy to digest and benefit from. And, while many vegetables—we’ve all had a crudités platter or a salad—are delicious and nutritious raw, others (beans, potatoes, rhubarb – yes, that’s a vegetable) require some preparation to aid digestion.

So, why do we refer to so many greens and more dinner-friendly fruits as vegetables? And why are these obvious fruits sometimes better in a sauce or with a piece of meat rather than eaten in juicy pieces like your archetypal fruit? In the culinary realm, fruits and vegetables are often separated based on their taste and aroma. For instance, people associate fruits with sweetness, and vegetables with savory tastes.

Fruits that are frequently mistaken for vegetables

Despite misconceptions, tomatoes and avocados are both classified as fruits because they carry seeds,. When compared to other fruits, tomatoes and avocados lack the traditional sweetness. Confusion among consumers is common since, from a gastronomic standpoint, several fruits are frequently classified as vegetables.

Here’s a list of fruits that are frequently mistaken for vegetables.

• Tomatoes
• Tomatillos
• Avocados
• Corn
• Butternut squash
• Okra,
• cucumber,
• peppers
• Eggplant
• Olives
• Pumpkins
• Zucchini

Vegetables That Are Frequently Mistaken for Fruits

Not surprisingly, a few veggies are frequently mistaken for fruits.

Here is a list of vegetables that are often considered fruits:

• Rhubarb
• Jicama
• Grape leaves

Legumes

Legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils, are also vegetables. “Legumes are technically considered a division of vegetables.. Vegetables are a large category that can be subdivided into many [smaller] categories. Vegetables, for example, are derived from various plant elements, such as leaves roots and stems. However, only the seeds or seed pods of one particular plant family are used to produce legumes.

Mushrooms

To add to your confusion, there are a few plant-based foods that don’t fit into either group. Technically speaking, mushrooms are neither fruits nor vegetables. Nor are they even regarded as plants. Fungi, like mushrooms, are not classified as fruits or vegetables because they are technically not plants. Even though they are members of a different kingdom, we frequently prepare mushrooms in the same way as vegetables in the kitchen.