Vegetables
Let's start with the fact that vegetables (like fruits) belong to the group of “succulent plant crops”, which is why they differ from grains, beans and other products of plant origin. Despite their moisture saturation (up to 80-90% or more), vegetables are rich in valuable nutrients. The wide variety of elements (carbon, nitrogen, mineral salts, etc.) and their dilution make these products easy to absorb by the human body. And this is very important when it comes to rational and nutritious nutrition.
Calorie content of different groups of vegetables
As you already understand, 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 the 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 tuber crops, to which it also belongs. It reaches 70-80 kcal per 100 grams. And we usually use more per serving (200-300 grams). And if you also cook everyone’s favorite fried potatoes or french fries, then it’s better not to start calculating!
Root vegetables are lower in calories - approximately 20-50 kcal per 100 grams of these vegetables. For onion plants, this indicator varies greatly. So, the calorie content of leeks is 36 kcal, and that of garlic reaches as much as 149 kcal! But you shouldn’t exclude these healthy vegetables from your diet; besides, you still need to try to eat 100 grams of garlic at a time.
The greatest variety and no less benefits are characteristic of the group of fruit vegetables. At the same time, their calorie content is very low - on average it varies from 15 to 35 kcal. Therefore, it is recommended to include vegetable salads (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc.) 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 ones should be consumed more often and in large quantities, and which ones should be more careful with. At the same time, you shouldn’t refuse some product (potatoes for example) because of its high energy value, because, in addition to calories, it contains a lot of useful substances and vitamins. Limit but exclude.
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-acidic ones are strawberries, raspberries, sweet-tasting cherries, apples, plums, pears. Sweet bananas, melon, watermelons (and some other fruits) should be limited in your diet and, if possible, not combined with anything.
Vegetables: what are they?
A number of characteristics make it possible to divide all vegetables into two large groups: vegetative and generative.
The latter eat fruits (inflorescences), while the former eat vegetative organs. Let's consider what kind of classification of vegetables this is. The table below will help us with this. Vegetative and generative vegetables
| Vegetative group of vegetables | Names of vegetables |
| Tubers | Potatoes, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke |
| Roots | Carrots, radishes, turnips, beets, celery, etc. |
| Leafy | Alliums (onions and garlic) |
| Brassicas (except broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi) | |
| Lettuce-spinach (these are various types of lettuce, sorrel, spinach) | |
| Spicy (coriander, tarragon, dill) | |
| Dessert (rhubarb) | |
| Rhizomatous | Horseradish |
| Stem | Asparagus, kohlrabi |
| Generative group of vegetables | Names of vegetables |
| Floral | Broccoli, cauliflower |
| Fruit | Pumpkins (pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, melons and watermelons) |
| Tomatoes (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants) | |
| Legumes (beans, beans and peas) | |
| Cereals (corn) |
Using this classification, you will be able to properly structure 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.
Fruits
The simplest definition of fruit is this: these are edible juicy fruits of bushes and trees (from the Latin fructus - fruit).
At the same time, our philistine understanding is somewhat different from the botanical one, which is actually broader. If the classification of vegetables included only vegetables (in our usual understanding), 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. The table below will help us divide all the fruits into groups. Fruit classification
| Group | Names of fruits |
| Pomaceae | Pears, apples, quince |
| Stone fruits | Peaches, plums, cherries, apricots |
| Berries | Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, grapes, blackberries, etc. |
| Nut-bearing | Hazel, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pine, peanuts, pistachios, 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, persimmons, bananas, figs, dates, etc. |
The classification of vegetables and fruits helps us see how diverse this food category is. Each selected group of fruits has its own characteristic features. For example, nuts are the most high in calories. 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 difficult product for our body.
What are vegetables and fruits?
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 main (unsweetened) dishes. Fruits are more of a dessert, a sweet, and they grow on a tree (that’s why they are called “fruits” in another way). Indeed, we have indicated the main differences. But there are exceptions.
So, pepper grows from the ovary of a flower. But this is a clear sign that it belongs to fruits. The scientific definition allows us to include cucumbers and even bean pods among them! 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 understanding, do not be surprised. Just look at it through the eyes of a botanist, not a chef.
Another vegetable classification scheme
In addition to the one we have considered, there is another classification, according to which vegetables can be divided into starchy and non-starchy, green. The first include: carrots, beets, pumpkin, zucchini, cauliflower, celery root and parsley, etc. When eating these vegetables, you should combine them correctly 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 types of greens (parsley, dill, celery, lettuce, etc.), eggplants, bell peppers, cucumbers, garlic, onions, green peas. This group of vegetables is quite easily absorbed by the body and can be combined with almost all foods - from animal proteins to legumes and grains.
The intermediate group is the so-called medium-starchy vegetables. It includes turnips, radishes, rutabaga 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, we recommend that you carefully study each of the groups we present.
