Fruit vs. Vegetable
By Shannonymous
@Shannonymous (108)
United States
April 29, 2012 3:21pm CST
The other day, I was talking to four other family members about fruits and veggies we enjoy. As such conversations often do, the topic turned to what is a fruit vs. what is a vegetable. As I usually do, I recited the biological, botanical definition of a fruit, implying that any plant food that doesn't fit this is a vegetable. I was surprised that not one person agreed with me.
In fact, between the five of us, we had five different definitions of fruits and vegetables, each of us pretty convinced we were correct. I won't tell you my definition right away. I want to hear yours.
5 responses
@lmw814 (124)
• United States
30 Apr 12
Hmmm...I always thought that anything with seeds was considered a fruit and without seeds was a vegetable.
@Shannonymous (108)
• United States
30 Apr 12
This is closest to my definition: that a fruit is what the plant "intends" for you to eat, usually because it contains seeds that need an animal to spread them. Vegetables are other parts of the plant that we harvest even though they don't "want" is to (of course plants don't have conscious intentions: it's the way they've evolved).
But I've heard every one of the classifications y'all have mentioned.
@victorkrish (1614)
• Malaysia
30 Apr 12
Taking a vegetables and fruits is necessary in our life. This is ensure that our body keep health and avoid a disease. At the same time, fruits is should be taken daily after took the meal. This is why, fruits is enrich with protein that prevent from disease. It is same as eating vegetables. It is must.
@Shannonymous (108)
• United States
30 Apr 12
I agree they're quite necessary to be healthy, however, I think fruits actually have less protein then pretty much any other food out there. I am on a limited-protein diet so I have to pay attention to these things.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
15 Aug 12
Whatever is the botanical or biological definition does not really matter at all. As for me whether it is fruit of vegetable for as long as they are on the table I'd eat them. I am a veggie and fruit lover and this is because I am a health advocate. I won't really take time thinking about the different definitions of fruits and vegetables but I do take time eating them and the result is here....a healthy, real healthy me.
@coldnpale (555)
• Greece
30 Apr 12
I'd have to go with the same thing snrm007 said. In my culture, it is a fact though, that most people consider vegetables most of the stuff you can put into a salad. As fruits are mostly eaten as desserts. That is a very very clumsy way to distinguish those two food categories though, as many fruits can be added into a salad and the opposite. However even though most people are aware that tomatoes are vegetables, they use them and refer to them as vegetables. :)
@snrm007 (224)
• United States
29 Apr 12
I think I hold the same viewpoint on this as many people. Most people in our society enjoy fruit over vegetables just because fruit is a lot sweeter. Onto the actual topic of what is what. Well anything with a seed is a fruit. That means that cucumbers and tomatoes are also fruit. You won't see them in the fruit aisle in the grocery store but those are the biological and botanical facts!
