Informative — Corn Kernels
10 Foods You Didn't Know Were Fruits 0
Doctors keep pushing us to eat more fruits and vegetables. But we can’t blame them; after all, fruits and vegetables are packed with essential nutrients for our bodies. Furthermore, fruits are often sweet and refreshing. Although we tend to shy away from vegetables or greens, it’s surprising that some foods that we believed were vegetables are fruits.According to Mayo Clinic botanists, a fruit is the part of a plant that develops from a flower.1 It may also be described as the part of the plant that contains the seeds. On the other hand, the stem, leaves, and roots are considered to be vegetables.2 Hence, if we choose to follow this description, you’ll be surprised that there are various foods you thought were vegetables, but they are fruits. Before you participate in another argument about whether or not eggplant or tomatoes are fruits or vegetables, please read on to update your knowledge of these foods you didn't know were fruits.
10 Foods You Didn't Know Were Fruits
Avocado
Because of its large pitted center that houses a seed, an avocado is categorized as a fruit. That may not shock you, because it’s versatile and is used in both sweet and savory dishes.1 Aside from being fleshy and soft, it is also produced from a single ovary, making them qualify in the fruit category.2
Pea Pods
You’re probably surprised by now. You may be thinking, “Aren’t pea pods legumes?” Well, whether they are snap peas or garden peas, they are considered fruits, because they are a flower based plant. The pods house the seeds. 2
Cucumber
Are you surprised that cucumber is actually a fruit? Yes, it is because of the nature of its growth and its composition of seeds.1 A cucumber is grown from a flowery ovary. It is also fleshy and has many seeds. Therefore, it is entirely a fruit.
Eggplant
I bet you also love this fruit like many people do. I do, too! And yes, it’s not a vegetable, either, but a fruit. It has a fleshy texture and has lots of seeds, and that makes it a fruit.2 Well, now you know.
Squash
Whether it is the summer squash or winter squash, they are considered fruits because of their many seeds. Squash is a fruit and not a vegetable because of its composition and the nature of growth.1
Peppers
You probably cook with red, green, or yellow peppers every day. Although they don’t have a fleshy inside, unlike other fruits, their core contains many seeds. They definitely belong to the fruits category.3
Corn Kernels
Although corn is classified as a grain, corn kernels are a fruit. They have a pericarp, the fruit wall, that is fused with the seed coat.2
Olives
Olives are a favorite garnish for drinks and salads because of their aroma and flavor. They are also one-seeded fruit, just like the peach. They are grown from a flowery plant.
Pumpkins
In case you’re wondering if a pumpkin is also a fruit, yes it is. Just like squash, pumpkins are indeed are fruit. They have a fleshy inside and lots of seeds. The fruit originates from the ovary of the flowering plant.2
Tomatoes
There has been a lot of debate about whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable. What classifies it as a fruit is that it has a ton of seeds and a fleshy inside. From now on, you’ll know a tomato is not a vegetable, but a fruit.
You probably thought that fruits are supposed to be sweet and fleshy. Now you know that even squash and pepper are fruits. Fruits are classified as foods that have seeds and are from the ovary of a flowering plant. Vegetables, on the other hand, are the roots, stem or leaves of the plants. So, there’s no way pumpkin or cucumbers are vegetables. So, if you don’t have a sweet tooth, forget about bananas or apples. You can take cucumbers and eggplants instead and count those fruits.
References
