Home > Science Fact Finder > Food and Nutrition - What Is The Difference Between A Fruit And A Vegetable?

Food and Nutrition - What Is The Difference Between A Fruit And A Vegetable?

What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?

The technical definition of a fruit is the (often fleshy) part of a plant that surrounds the seeds. By this definition, tomatoes, apples, pumpkins, eggplants, squashes, rose hips, peppers, peapods, cucumbers, and corn kernels are all fruits. All other edible plant parts are considered vegetables. Lettuce, carrots, and spinach are examples of vegetables.

The popular definitions of fruit and vegetable are somewhat different from the technical definitions. Most people categorize "vegetables" as foods that are eaten as part of a meal's main course and "fruits" as foods that are eaten for dessert or as a snack.

Sources: Hillman, Howard. Kitchen Science, Rev. ed., p. 130; McGee, Harold. On Food and Cooking, pp. 124-26.

[The entire page is 140 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass