Classification of vegetables and fruits - scheme and features

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Vegetables and fruits are the most valuable sources of nutrients, trace elements, vitamins and fiber. They, along with grains, legumes and some protein foods, should form the basis of our diet. Contrary to popular belief, a diet consisting mainly of fruits and vegetables can be quite varied (but not complete!). At the same time, each individual group is characterized by certain properties, composition, taste, peculiarities of cultivation and use.

The classification of vegetables and fruits, which we will consider in this article, will show the whole variety of these products and highlight their most significant distinguishing features.

What are fruits and vegetables?

Before classifying these groups, you need to understand what exactly we are talking about. It would seem that there is nothing complicated here. Vegetables grow in the garden and are used to prepare basic (savory) dishes. Fruits are rather a dessert, sweetness, and they grow on a tree (that's why they are called "fruits" in another way). Indeed, we have identified the main differences. But there are exceptions.

So, pepper grows from the ovary of a flower. But this is a clear sign of belonging to the fruit. The scientific definition allows you to include cucumbers, and even bean pods! Since ancient times, the succulent parts of herbaceous plants have been called vegetables. To avoid confusion, we will distinguish between two classifications - scientific and culinary. Thus, if the proposed classification of vegetables and fruits diverges from your usual idea, do not be surprised. Just look at her through the eyes of a nerd, not a chef.

Vegetables

Let's start with the fact that vegetables (like fruits) belong to the group of "succulent crops", which is what distinguishes them from grains, beans and other plant products. Despite their saturation with moisture (up to 80-90% or more), vegetables are rich in valuable nutrients. The large variety of elements (carbon, nitrogen, mineral s alts, etc.) and their dilution make these products easy for the human body to assimilate. And this is very important when it comes to rational and nutritious nutrition.

Vegetables: what are

A number of features allows you to divide all vegetables into two large groups: vegetative and generative. In the latter, fruits (inflorescences) are used for food, in the former, vegetative organs. Consider what kind of classification of vegetables. The table below will help us with this.

Vegetative and generative vegetables

Vegetative group of vegetables	Names of vegetables
Tube crops	Potato, sweet potato, Jerusalem artichoke
Root crops	Carrots, radishes, turnips, beets, celery, etc.
Leafy	Onion (onion and garlic)
	Cabbage (except broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi)
	Spinach salad (these are different types of lettuce, sorrel, spinach)
	Spicy (coriander, tarragon, dill)
	Dessert (rhubarb)
Rhizome	Fuck
Stems	Asparagus, kohlrabi
Vegetable Generative Group	Names of vegetables
Floral	Broccoli, cauliflower
Fruit	Pumpkin (pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, melons and watermelons)
	Tomato (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant)
	Legumes (beans, beans and vegetable peas)
	Cereals (corn)

Using this classification, you can properly build your diet depending on the characteristics of each group and your body's need for certain nutrients. In addition, some vegetables are better and easier to digest, while others require more energy for these purposes.

Calorie content of different groups of vegetables

As you already understood, the considered classification of vegetables allows us to divide them not only depending on what part of the product is eaten. Among the most significant differences is such an indicator as energy value,inherent in a particular group.

Why, for example, is it advised to eat potatoes in moderation? This is due to the high calorie content of tubers, to which it also applies. It reaches 70-80 kcal per 100 grams. And per serving we use, as a rule, more (200-300 grams). And if you cook fried potatoes or french fries so beloved by everyone, then it’s better not to start the calculation!

Root crops are less caloric - approximately 20-50 kcal per 100 grams of these vegetables. In onions, this indicator varies greatly. So, the calorie content of leek is 36 kcal, while garlic reaches as much as 149 kcal! But you should not exclude these he althy vegetables from the diet, besides, you still need to try to eat 100 grams of garlic at a time.

The greatest variety and no less benefit are characteristic of the group of fruit vegetables. At the same time, their calorie content is quite low - on average, it varies from 15 to 35 kcal. Therefore, vegetable salads (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc.) are advised to include in your daily diet (you can do it more than once a day).

Knowing the approximate calorie content of each group of vegetables, it is easy to determine which of them should be consumed more often and in large quantities, and which ones should be more careful. At the same time, it is not worth abandoning some product (the same potato) because of the high energy value, because, in addition to calories, it contains a lot of useful substances and vitamins. Limit but exclude.

Different vegetable classification scheme

Besides what we have considered,there is another classification, according to which vegetables can be divided into starchy and non-starchy, green. The former include: carrots, beets, pumpkins, zucchini, cauliflower, celery root and parsley, etc. When eating these vegetables, they should be properly combined with other foods. So, in the company of sugar, they will give you such an unpleasant process as fermentation.

Green and non-starchy include all kinds of greens (parsley, dill, celery, lettuce, etc.), eggplant, bell peppers, cucumbers, garlic, onions, green peas. This group of vegetables is quite easily absorbed by the body and is combined with almost all products - from animal proteins to legumes and grains.

The intermediate group is the so-called medium starchy vegetables. It includes turnips, radishes, rutabagas and some others. In terms of compatibility, these vegetables are closer to green than to starchy. If stomach comfort and good digestion are important to you, then we recommend that you carefully study each of the groups presented by us.

Fruit

The simplest definition of fruit is as follows: it is the edible juicy fruits of shrubs and trees (from Latin fructus - fruit). At the same time, our narrow-minded view is somewhat different from the botanical one, which is actually wider. If the classification of vegetables included only vegetables (in the usual sense for us), then here we will consider all fruits. So, they are called both berries and nuts, which are distinguished by their juiciness and also grow on trees and shrubs. Tablebelow will help us divide all fruits into groups.

Classification of fruits

Group	Fruit Names
Pome fruits	Pears, apples, quince
Drupes	Peaches, plums, cherries, apricots
Berries	Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, grapes, blackberries, etc.
Nuts	Hazel, hazelnut, walnut, almond, cedar, peanut, pistachio, etc.
Subtropical and tropical (separated into a separate group due to the requirements for certain climatic conditions for their cultivation)	Lemons, oranges and other citrus fruits, pomegranate, persimmon, bananas, figs, dates, etc.

The classification of vegetables and fruits helps us to see how diverse this food category is. Each selected group of fruits has its own characteristics. So, for example, nut fruits are the most high-calorie. Their energy value can reach 600 kcal or more! Therefore, it is important to limit them in your diet. In addition, nuts are a very heavy product for our body.

Not all fruits are sweet

Another fairly common classification of fruits divides them into sweet, semi-sweet and sour. The latter is the most widely represented in our country.

Citrus fruits, pomegranates, cranberries, pineapples, as well as some varieties of apples, plums, pears, and grapes are called sour. Semi-sour are strawberries, raspberries, sweet ontaste of cherry, apples, plums, pears. Sweet bananas, melons, watermelons (and some other fruits) should be limited in your diet and, if possible, not combined with anything.

Apply knowledge in the kitchen

If you know the classification of fresh vegetables and fruits, then you can easily build your diet according to the principles of proper nutrition. Is it worth eating a supplement of this salad or is it better to limit yourself to a small portion? Should potatoes be served with meat or legumes?

You can easily answer these questions for yourself. If you learn the knowledge that we shared in the article, then soon you will have your own classification of dishes from vegetables or fruits. Some will become the basis of the diet, others will appear in it less often and in smaller quantities. We hope the information was useful for you and your he alth.