Fruits contain seeds and come from the flowering part of a plant. Vegetables are the edible parts of a plant, like the leaves, bulbs, roots, or stems. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients.
Although they both make up the basis of a nutritious diet, fruits and vegetables have classifications based on their botanical structure. The fruits people eat are the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants, while vegetables consist of edible plant stems, leaves, and other plant components.
The Department of Agriculture recommends adults consume 1.5 to 2.5 cups of fruit per day.In addition to fruit, they should aim to eat 2 to 4 cups of vegetables. These recommendations vary depending on a person’s age, weight, and sex.According to a 2015 studyTrusted Source, most adults in the United States do not consume enough produce.The survey showed that just 12.2% met the daily fruit intake, while 9.3% met the daily vegetable intake. Access is likely an issue, as only 7% of adults near or below the poverty level reported they ate the required amount of vegetables per day.
Fruits and vegetables comprise different partsTrusted Source of the plants from which they grow.Fruits come from the flowering part of a plant and contain seeds. In contrast, vegetables are the edible parts of a plant, such as the leaves, stem, roots, and bulbs.People often associate fruits with sweetness and vegetables with a savory taste. Although this is often true, botanists classify some savory produce as fruits, such as tomatoes.
Commonly mistaken fruits and vegetables
Savory fruits and sweet vegetables sometimes cause confusion as to their classification. Additionally, botanists and culinary experts disagree on the classification of some fruits and vegetables, further complicating the matter.
Botanists classify fruits and vegetables based on the part of the plant that they originate. However, chefs use flavor profiles, such as sweet or savory, to decide whether something is a vegetable or a fruit.
Below are some fruits and vegetables that fit into two different categories and that people often mix up.
Tomato
While the tomato is technically a fruitTrusted Source –– according to botanists –– many consider it a vegetable due to its savory flavor.
FoodData Central (FDC), the U.S. government’s central nutrient database, classifies tomatoesTrusted Source as vegetables. However, a tomato grows from the plant’s flower and has seeds, making it a fruit.