Are Beans Vegetables? Here's What a Dietitian Has to Say

Are beans vegetables or do they fall into another category?

Here’s what a dietitian has to say.

Beans are tasty and highly nutritious, but it’s not always clear how they are categorized.

groups of different beans

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Are they a vegetable, protein or both?

Read on to find out more.

Are Beans A Vegetable?

In broad strokes, vegetables are defined as the edible portion of a plant.

This can include leaves, stalks, roots, tubers, bulbs and flowers.

Beans are a subgroup of vegetables, called legumes.

Botanically, legumes are the fruits of the matured ovary of plants.

However, eating beans and lentils does not necessarily count toward your daily vegetable intake.

Legumes are a nutrient powerhouse.

While all legumes offer health benefits, they fall into different subgroups according to their nutritional composition.

(Edamame also falls into this category even though it is eaten fresh, not dried.)

Legumes offer numerous health benefits.

But they also contain a significant amount of protein, which sets them apart from typical vegetables.

But no matter how they are perceived, they are beneficial to a balanced diet.

Browse our collection ofhealthy beans,peasandlentil recipestoday to see how to incorporate them into your meals and snacks!