What are vegetables?
Speaking from a botanical or gardening point of view, vegetables are the leaves, stems or roots of plants. However, many non-sweet fruits are commonly considered vegetables for eating or cooking purposes.
Different types of vegetables
Vegetables can be broadly classified into four categories:
1. Above-ground vegetables: greens (spinach, lettuce, chard, etcetera), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, et cetera), bulbs (onions, garlic) and fungi (mushrooms).
2. Below-ground/root/starchy vegetables: beets, carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, (swede), turnip, yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes etc.
3. Gourds: pumpkins, hard-shelled squashes and other winter squashes.
4. Technically fruits but treated like vegetables: avocados, olives, bell peppers, eggplant/aubergine, tomatoes and zucchini/courgette. Unlike other fruits, these aren’t sweet and are often prepared and consumed with other vegetables. Avocados and olives are unique among fruits and vegetables because most of their calories come from fat rather than sugar or starch.
Nutritional composition of vegetables
Above-ground vegetables are low carb/keto-friendly foods that provide 5 or fewer grams of net carbs per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving. Not so for the root and starchy vegetables, however, which range from 6 to 17 grams of net carbs per serving. Vegetables usually contain moderate to high amounts of fibre, especially avocado — which also happens to be among the lowest in net carbs.
Overall, vegetables are more nutrient-dense than fruits, although their vitamin and mineral content can also be affected by factors like growing and storage conditions. Most veggies are good to excellent sources of potassium, and bell peppers and cruciferous vegetables are also high in vitamin C.
Low-carb vegetables – read more about the best and the worst here
Different types of vegetables
Vegetables can be broadly classified into four categories:
1. Above-ground vegetables: greens (spinach, lettuce, chard, etcetera), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, et cetera), bulbs (onions, garlic) and fungi (mushrooms).
2. Below-ground/root/starchy vegetables: beets, carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, (swede), turnip, yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes etc.
3. Gourds: pumpkins, hard-shelled squashes and other winter squashes.
4. Technically fruits but treated like vegetables: avocados, olives, bell peppers, eggplant/aubergine, tomatoes and zucchini/courgette. Unlike other fruits, these aren’t sweet and are often prepared and consumed with other vegetables. Avocados and olives are unique among fruits and vegetables because most of their calories come from fat rather than sugar or starch.
Nutritional composition of vegetables
Above-ground vegetables are low carb/keto-friendly foods that provide 5 or fewer grams of net carbs per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving. Not so for the root and starchy vegetables, however, which range from 6 to 17 grams of net carbs per serving. Vegetables usually contain moderate to high amounts of fibre, especially avocado — which also happens to be among the lowest in net carbs.
Overall, vegetables are more nutrient-dense than fruits, although their vitamin and mineral content can also be affected by factors like growing and storage conditions. Most veggies are good to excellent sources of potassium, and bell peppers and cruciferous vegetables are also high in vitamin C.
Low-carb vegetables – read more about the best and the worst here
With dinner yesterday I enjoyed a mix of vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and peas, followed with some blueberries and cream for dessert 😋
Vegetables, do you enjoy them? - Have you a few favourites? Do please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.
All the best Jan
Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas within this blog. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.
All the best Jan
33 comments:
If you ever get your hands on Rebecca Wood's Whole Food Encyclopedia the first edition, it's great. I have the second as well. Though my go-to is the first one. It's one of the books I'd take on an island if I had to pick five books.
We aren't fans of broccoli or cauliflower when it's cooked, but like it raw in salads. I love peppers, tomatoes, green beans, zucchini... I especially like veggies roasted!
interesting read. I love all kind of vegetables. Thanks.
My favorite may be carrots. I did not realize that zucchini was technically fruit. I had zucchini tonight.
Interesting list of veg that are actually fruits -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
NO. I am trying to cut all of them out..the less veggie I eat, the better my tummy feels better.
Nice post Jan. Yes, I do like most veggies and eat them.
I love vegetables! Carrots, potatoes, all greens, celery, onions, garlic, asparagus, corn, lettuces, cabbages, beans, and much more.
Muchas de esas verduras en un pisto quedarían bastante bien.
Que tengas un buen día.
Yes, I do enjoy veggies. Take care, have a wonderful day!
It seems you had a great dinner yesterday. I like your mix broccoli, cauliflower,
and peas. Not mention of your blueberries and cream dessert 🍰😋
Thanks for sharing your interesting post about the types of vegetables.
Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, courgettes, carrots, peas, sweetcorn, avocado,and tomatoes all feature strongly in our diet. I love potatoes, but don't often have them.
...some I enjoy and some I don't.
The older I get the more I love them.
I do like veggies. I wish my husband liked more of them because it makes it difficult to cooking in my house.
I love vegetables...and I love fruit. Every morning I squeeze oranges and lemons, and have been doing so for many, many years. I drink the juice, of course! :) Other fruit joins my daily intake!
I pretty much like all vegetables!
I'm not a big fan of veggies, but I eat them.
I like vegatables. Have a nice weekend !
i like those grown above .And of course organic💖 💖💖💖
I like all kinds of vegetables.
Veggies are great for you and I enjoy them.
Vegetables do make me feel better by the end of the day.
I pretty much like all vegetables, not that crazy about lima beans.
Las verduras son buenas y ricas,. Te mando un beso.
be proud of me, I have been making it a point to eat more veggies, mainly in salad but if I can't get that, I drink veggie juice.
We manage to eat a variety of vegetables in soups, which I try to make at least once a week ( with enough for 2 suppers). Otherwise it's raw veg with some sort of dip.
I do enjoy them :-D
I do like vegetables. I didn't realise root veggies were higher in carbs.
I do enjoy veggies, probably not as many as I should, but I certainly love spinach and romaine lettuce salads, bean, beets.
I prefer vegetables over fruit, any day. X
Las verduras me gustan todas y favoritas no puedo decirte. Besos.
My current favourite vegetable has to be carrot both as part of a main meal but I am enjoying using it in cake baking too.
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