Fruits

Fruits come from the flowers of a plant. They are a plant’s fleshy or dry ripened ovary containing seeds. 

A fruit from a single ovary of an individual flower is called a “berry.”

  • Fruits generally have a sweet or tart flavor.
  • Fruits are mostly eaten raw.
  • They are used to make desserts, snacks, or juices.

Examples: Apple, banana, kiwi, orange, peach, pineapple, etc.

Vegetables

Vegetables are the edible parts of the plant, like leaves, stems, roots, bulbs, and tubers.

  • Vegetables do not contain seeds.
  • Vegetables have a mild and savory flavor.
  • Most vegetables need cooking for easy digestion.

Examples: Potato, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, onion, celery, etc.

Differences between Fruits and Vegetables

Here are the primary differences between fruits and vegetables

FRUITS VEGETABLES
Contain seeds Do not contain seeds
High in natural sugar content and calories Low in natural sugar content and calories
Mostly eaten raw Mostly cooked before eating
Sweet and tart flavor Mild and savory flavor. Some are bitter, too.

Many fruits are commonly mistaken for vegetables because of how they are consumed.

Examples: Tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, and eggplant.

Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts about fruits and vegetables:

  • In 1893, the US Supreme Court ruled that the tomato is a vegetable based on its culinary use even though botanically it is a fruit as it contains seeds.
  • Bananas are berries, while blackberries and strawberries are not berries.
  • Kiwis contain more Vitamin C than oranges.
  • Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space.
  • Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Artichokes are flowers that are consumed as vegetables

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about fruits and vegetables:

  • Which part of the plant does a fruit come from? Flower
  • Vegetables contain seeds. True or False? False
  • What is the main difference between how we consume fruits and vegetables? Fruits are eaten raw, while vegetables are cooked
  • What is the main difference between fruits and vegetables regarding nutritional value? Fruits have a higher amount of natural sugar
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