Green beans are one of the most commonly eaten food items and are widely available around the world.Many of you may not enjoy the idea of eating green beans, but it’s actually quite nutritious. And, while growing up, you may have heard how important it is to eat green beans because of the high calcium content.The tradition of eating green beans most likely comes from Peru, and with the tribes, these food items traveled all over South and Central America. And, in due time, these beans were also introduced to the Europeans. Interestingly, people all over the world have found their own way of using these beans, and some beans are even dried to extract the seeds that become culinary delicacies. However, even after the worldwide popularity of this food, people are still perplexed when it comes to classifying green beans. Are they fruits or vegetables? What about a tomato? To get the answer, you will need to keep reading this article.You’ll soon find out about green beans, but are bay leaves edible? Are beans vegetables too? Check out these articles on Kidadl to quench your curiosity.What are green beans classified as?Botanically speaking, the green bean is classified as an unripe and young fruit from different variants of bean plants. Yes, there isn’t only one variety of beans; rather, 130 cultivars of plants are known that can produce green beans. So, these plants are actually fruits that are mislabeled as vegetables in most supermarkets. Fruit is usually a part of the plant that develops from the walls of the ovary of its flower and contains seeds inside for reproduction.The common green bean variants include the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), the runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus), the yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata), and the hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus). However, when it comes to common terms, these fruits are often called string beans, snap beans, or even French beans. In the botanical world, green bean plants are usually classified into bush beans and pole beans based on how these plants and their stems grow. And, you would be quite surprised to know that beans and peas are quite similar and both are actually fruits, not vegetables. The pod of a green pea or bean actually contains the seeds that we usually eat and call legumes. In fact, most botanists will tell you that there is no such thing as a true vegetable, and almost all produce that you see in the supermarket is some kind of fruit, being the seed, root, or any other part of a plant.Are green beans fruits or vegetables?Botanically, green beans are fruits; but just like tomatoes, this food is categorized as a vegetable.An interesting fact to know about the term ‘vegetable’ is that botanists don’t really like to use it to classify any plant species or its fruit. Instead, the term is technically used by the farming or retail industry to denote a particular food that can be made into a savory dish. For example, pumpkins are fruits. Anybody could go for a slice of pumpkin pie, but how about a bowl of pumpkin salad or soup? Not so sweet, after all. Its seeds are pretty tasty, however!What food category is a green bean?Even the seed of a green bean is known to be classified as a vegetable instead of fruit. They are known for their high fiber content and found in the food family of starchy vegetables.When it comes to these seeds inside these bean pods, they are sold and categorized as legumes after drying. A legume is the seed of a dried fruit. Much like green beans, other common food items like squash, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, peppers, and even olives are technically fruits according to botanical classification. But, because they aren’t very sweet, most of these are considered to be vegetables and also cooked accordingly. Green beans (and their peas) are also considered a protein-rich vegetable.Did You Know…Any discussion related to green beans or peas will highlight the health benefits and nutritional benefits of a green bean fruit. Apart from a high calcium content, green beans also provide necessary fiber content, which helps better digestion. Many people even like to eat it raw because of its crunchiness. And, if you’re in need of some antioxidants, these fleshy green beans will surely help you regain any lost energy.Moreover, doctors suggest more people eat green beans as this particular legume contains flavonoids that help maintain heart health. And, generally, it’s very easy to whip up all kinds of foods using green beans, as you can technically add your entire pantry to them. Try throwing in a few cucumbers, spicy peppers, a diced tomato, some carrots, olives, and more. If you made such a dish, you could probably call it a fruit salad. But, naming foods a fruit or a vegetable doesn’t seem to make a big difference. Also, when you have so many interesting vegetables on the same plate, you’re bound to get a good amount of nutrition. To the world, all types of beans, especially their seeds, are known for their protein content. Take, for example, kidney beans. They are generally the seeds of a pole bean plant. However, the usual cooked green bean is also a good form of protein and a necessary fruit or vegetable that should be included in your diet. And, these legumes are also great for giving you a big dose of Vitamin C, as a cup of green beans can contain up to 0.0004 oz (12.2 mg) of it.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are green beans a fruit, then why not take a look at are birds warm blooded, or are black diamonds real?
Green beans are one of the most commonly eaten food items and are widely available around the world.
