Food Theory: Vegetables Are NOT Real!

Summary

In this witty Food Theory episode, the host humorously challenges the existence of vegetables as a distinct food category. They argue that the term 'vegetable' is misleading, as it encompasses a wide variety of plant parts, including fruits, seeds, and stems. The video debunks common misconceptions, such as tomatoes being vegetables, and suggests that a more accurate classification would be 'seeds and starches' or 'stems and leaves'. It encourages viewers to rethink their food choices based on botanical facts rather than societal labels.

Takeaways

• 😲 Vegetables are a social construct rather than a strict botanical category.
• 🍅 The botanical definition of a fruit includes many foods commonly referred to as vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
• 🌱 The term 'vegetable' was historically used to describe anything that was neither animal nor mineral, leading to a broad and vague classification.
• 🥦 Many foods considered vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, are actually flower parts of the plant.
• 🌿 Even the scientific community struggles to define what constitutes a vegetable, often defaulting to 'all plants'.
• 🥕 Carrots and similar starchy roots are geophytes and are more similar to grains than traditional vegetables.
• 🍞 Bread, being made from grains which are seeds, challenges the classification of grains as vegetables.
• 🥗 The remaining category of 'vegetables' that makes the most sense are the stems and leaves, which are high in fiber and low in calories.
• 🥬 The term 'vegetable' should be replaced with 'stems and leaves' to better reflect the nature of these foods.
• 🍽️ Encouraging a shift in thinking about food groups allows for more informed dietary choices based on the actual components of the plant being consumed.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the video script about vegetables?

The main argument is that the category 'vegetables' is not scientifically or practically well-defined, and many foods commonly referred to as vegetables are actually fruits, grains, or other parts of plants.

Why does the script claim that vegetables are a lie?

The script claims that vegetables are a lie because the term 'vegetable' is used loosely and includes a wide variety of plant parts that don't fit a single, coherent definition.

What is the botanical definition of a fruit as mentioned in the script?

In botany, fruits are the seed-bearing parts that develop from the ripened ovary of a flowering plant.

Which foods does the script suggest are misclassified as vegetables?

The script suggests that tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, sweet corn, eggplants, squash, peas, pumpkins, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini flowers are misclassified as vegetables because they are actually fruits or other parts of the plant.

What is the problem with the definition of 'vegetable' according to the script?

The problem with the definition of 'vegetable' is that it is vague and can include almost any part of a plant, making it impractical and unhelpful for categorizing food.

What is the script's stance on the tomato being a vegetable or a fruit?

The script argues that tomatoes are fruits based on the botanical definition, as they are the seed-bearing part of the tomato plant.

What does the script propose as a more accurate term for what we commonly call vegetables?

The script proposes using the terms 'stems and leaves' or 'seeds and starches' instead of 'vegetables' for more accuracy in describing the parts of plants we eat.

Why does the script mention Rocket Money?

The script mentions Rocket Money as a sponsor that helps manage subscriptions and budgeting, which is a humorous aside from the main topic of vegetables.

What is the script's conclusion about the existence of vegetables?

The script concludes that there is no such thing as a vegetable because the term is too broad and inconsistently applied, and suggests we should categorize plant foods more accurately.

What advice does the script give regarding eating what we call vegetables?

The script advises that people should choose their foods based on what they're actually doing for their body and what part of the plant they're coming from, rather than following the arbitrary category of 'vegetables'.

Outlines

00:00

🥬 The Illusion of Vegetables

The paragraph humorously challenges the existence of vegetables as a distinct food category. It starts with a playful game where the speaker claims that vegetables do not exist and proceeds to argue that the term 'vegetable' is misleading. The speaker points out that the definition of a vegetable is vague and can include almost any part of a plant, even non-edible ones. The script also highlights the confusion caused by the botanical classification of fruits, such as tomatoes, which are technically fruits but commonly referred to as vegetables. The speaker uses this to reinforce the idea that the category of vegetables is an artificial construct of society.

05:01

🌱 Debunking the Vegetable Category

This paragraph delves deeper into the botanical definitions to further dismantle the concept of vegetables. It explains that many foods considered vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini flowers, are actually parts of the reproductive system of plants and thus should be classified as fruits. The script also addresses the idea that non-reproductive parts of plants, like stems and leaves, might be more fitting for the vegetable category. However, it points out that even this classification is flawed because it includes a wide variety of foods with different nutritional profiles and culinary uses. The paragraph concludes by suggesting that the term 'vegetable' should be replaced with more accurate descriptors like 'seeds and starches' or 'stems and leaves'.

10:05

🌿 Redefining Our Food Vocabulary

The final paragraph summarizes the argument against the term 'vegetable' and suggests a more accurate way to classify plant-based foods. It emphasizes that the traditional category of vegetables is so broad and ill-defined that it encompasses parts of plants that are nutritionally and botanically distinct. The speaker advocates for抛弃ing the term 'vegetable' in favor of more specific terms that reflect the actual nature of the food, such as 'fruits,' 'seeds,' 'starch,' or 'leaves.' The paragraph ends with a call to action for viewers to rethink their food choices based on the actual components and benefits of the plants they consume, rather than relying on the misleading label of 'vegetable.'

Keywords

💡Vegetable

A vegetable is commonly understood as an edible plant or part of a plant, typically consumed as part of a meal. In the video, the concept of 'vegetable' is scrutinized and ultimately deemed a misnomer. The script humorously argues that vegetables don't exist as a distinct category because many foods we consider vegetables are actually fruits or other plant parts. For example, the script points out that a tomato, cucumber, and even peas are technically fruits, not vegetables.

💡Botanical Definition

The botanical definition refers to the scientific classification of plants and their parts. The video uses this definition to argue that many foods labeled as vegetables are actually fruits because they are the seed-bearing parts of plants. For instance, the tomato is scientifically classified as a fruit because it develops from the ovary of a flowering plant.

💡Food Pyramid

The food pyramid is a diagram representing the different categories of food that should make up a balanced diet. The video suggests that the category of vegetables in the food pyramid is misleading and should be redefined or removed because it inaccurately groups a variety of different plant parts.

💡Fruit

In the context of the video, a fruit is defined botanically as the mature ovary of a flowering plant, typically containing seeds. The script argues that many items we consider vegetables, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, are actually fruits because they fit this botanical definition.

💡Geophyte

A geophyte is a plant that stores energy in the form of a bulb, corm, or tuber. The video claims that many foods we think of as vegetables, like carrots and potatoes, are actually geophytes and should be reclassified as starches rather than vegetables.

💡Stems and Leaves

The video concludes that the only foods that truly fit the common definition of a vegetable are those that are stems and leaves, such as spinach, kale, and celery. These are the parts of plants that are high in fiber and low in calories, fitting the profile of what we typically think of as vegetables.

💡Culinary World

The culinary world refers to the community and practices involved in the preparation and presentation of food. The script mentions that even within the culinary world, there is no clear definition of what constitutes a vegetable, suggesting that the term is used loosely and inconsistently.

💡Savory

Savory is a taste term that describes food that is salty or umami, as opposed to sweet. The video points out that vegetables are often associated with savory flavors, but there are exceptions like sweet-tasting carrots and beets, which challenge the conventional classification.

💡Grains

Grains are the seeds of plants called cereals, which are used for food. The video argues that grains, which are part of plants, should not be classified as vegetables. It also humorously suggests that bread, made from grains, might be considered a vegetable by the script's logic.

💡Stems

Stems are the structural parts of a plant that hold up leaves and support the plant. In the video, stems like celery and bamboo are identified as true vegetables, as they fit the category of plant parts that are typically consumed as vegetables.

💡Leaves

Leaves are the green, flat parts of a plant that carry out photosynthesis. The video concludes that leaves, such as spinach and kale, are the parts of plants that most accurately fit the definition of vegetables, as they are consumed for their nutritional value and are distinct from other plant parts.

Highlights

The concept of vegetables being a lie is introduced.

The challenge to define what a vegetable is.

The historical definition of 'vegetable' as neither animal nor mineral.

The realization that many foods considered vegetables are actually fruits botanically.

The argument that vegetables are misclassified as they are often the edible parts of plants.

The claim that McDonald's could be the biggest distributor of vegetables, humorously.

The culinary world's lack of a clear definition for vegetables.

The exception to the rule that vegetables are typically tough and taste bland.

The common but flawed distinction that vegetables have a savory flavor.

The revelation that not all vegetables are green or non-woody.

The botanical definition of fruit and how it applies to many foods labeled as vegetables.

The discussion on grains being seeds and their relation to the vegetable category.

The proposal to reclassify certain foods like potatoes from vegetables to grains.

The conclusion that what remains of the vegetable category are mostly stems and leaves.

The suggestion to rename the vegetable category to 'seeds and starches' or 'stems and leaves'.

The final argument that vegetables as a category should be phased out from our vocabulary.

Transcripts

Let's play a game. I'm going to show you some foods, and I want you to tell me what category they fall into.

Ready? Let's go.

If you guessed vegetable, you're wrong.

Nope, not a vegetable.

Correct! Not a vegetable. Except it totally is.

Confused? You should be. Vegetables aren't real. There's no such thing, and I can prove it.

Hello, Internet! Welcome to Food Theory, the show that's just as nutritious as those leafy greens.

Now, this is a subject I've been passionate about for quite some time.

Not just because if I have to hear one more person say,

Did you know that tomato isn't a vegetable?

I will snap, but because vegetables are a lie.

All those times I was told I had to finish off the unseasoned, soggy greens on my plate

was my villain origin story.

And I finally get to exact my revenge today by proving to you and the world that vegetables aren't real.

You heard me.

They're a figment of our society's imagination, lumped together and stuffed into the food pyramid

as a way to make little kids pay a toll for dessert.

I'm not happy to just pick on vegetables a little bit here.

I mean the entire category needs to be wiped off of the food pyramid. You ready?

I'm about to make all of our collective six-year-old dreams come true

and make vegetables disappear from your food vocabulary forever.

I can tell that some of you are skeptical.

You might even think I'm full of shiitake mushrooms.

It's an absurd premise, right?

I mean, an entire food group is fake?

And I hear you.

So let's start small.

First, what even is a vegetable?

It may seem like a pretty obvious answer.

We know what vegetables are.

Most of us eat them every day.

Amy eats nothing but vegetables.

So how do we define it?

If you're stuck, it's not just you.

Even old Miriam is woefully unhelpful.

A usually herbaceous plant grown for an edible part that is usually eaten as part of a meal.

So basically any plant we can use to make food.

It gets worse if you look at the origin of the word.

Vegetable was first used in the 15th century vaguely describing neither animal nor mineral.

Thanks 15th century guy.

If it's not an animal, it's a vegetable.

Water? Vegetable.

This table?

Vegetable.

Obviously, that doesn't help us at all.

So immediately you can see the problem here.

By the modern definition, all of these are vegetables.

A pineapple is part of a plant grown for food.

So is celery.

And guess what?

Fries are made directly from potatoes, which are part of a plant.

Meaning that the scariest twist of today's episode is that McDonald's is the biggest

distributor of vegetables in the world. Yeah.

Obviously, this can't be a definition of vegetables because it includes all starches and fruits and

literally every part of every plant under the sun and ground.

That's nothing like what we're looking for and isn't actually a practical definition

for anything.

Putting the dictionary aside, though, the culinary world doesn't really have a good

definition for them either.

It's pretty much just all plants.

Really, the only distinction that's made is making a carve out for fruits, which really

just boils down to culinary application, like whether they're used in desserts or not.

Vegetables are typically tougher and taste blander than fruit due to lower sugar content.

And some other definitions state that they likely require cooking to eat.

But with that being said, there are plenty of veggies that don't require cooking.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, pretty much anything you can throw in a salad.

Another common distinction people make is how vegetables have a savory flavor and they're

used in savory dishes.

Again, massive list of exceptions.

Shallots, carrots and beets, especially when cooked, are all sweet.

There are also definitions of vegetables that pin them as greens or the non-woody parts

of plants.

But unfortunately, I have to be that guy again and point out that there are quite a few exceptions.

I'm sure most of you already got to this counterpoint, but I'll say it anyway.

Not all vegetables are green.

Sure, there's a lot out there that are, but just as many that aren't.

And when it comes to woody, no, and you know it, bamboo shoots are edible, very common

in East Asian cuisine, and considered a vegetable.

So even that rudimentary distinction between vegetables and fruit and the definition itself

are completely bunk.

TLDR, there is no definition of a vegetable that exists that isn't immediately disproven

by a ton of other vegetables.

So where does that leave us?

What the heck are we actually eating?

Let's go back for a second and focus on the humble tomato.

The whole it's a fruit thing stems from the botanical definition of a fruit.

And thankfully, the definition of fruit isn't completely bananas like vegetables is.

Well, whatever, you know what I mean.

In botany, the scientific classification of plants, the seed-bearing parts that develop

from the ripened ovary of a flowering plant are considered fruits.

If you remember back to fourth grade, when you labeled the parts of a plant, you did

things like the petals and the stamen and all that jazz.

Anything in that region is considered a fruit.

Simply put, a fruit is something that is produced by a plant rather than being the plant itself,

specifically the reproductive part.

By this definition, the tomato is the product of the Solanum lycopersicum plant, more commonly

and easily named the tomato plant, therefore proving that tomatoes are in fact fruit.

What's more interesting, though, is that this can be said for a lot of vegetables.

Cucumbers are from the plant Cucumis sativus.

Peppers are a product of the Capsicum annuum plant.

Sweet corn, eggplants, all types of squash, peas, and pumpkins are actually fruits.

In fact, a massive number of the vegetables you eat every day and even the ones your mom

is all up in your business about are 100% fruit.

And watch out because it's not just the fruits with skins and mushy insides we're talking about.

This also includes things like the little buds on broccoli.

Those are flower buds, the reproductive part of the plant.

So is cauliflower, at least the tips of it, which are actually a flower.

This also knocks out artichokes, capers, and zucchini flowers if you're playing along at

home. And of course, all this fruit talk leaves us with the obvious question.

If these vegetables are fruit, have we just been mislabeling these two categories for years?

Is it all fruit? No.

Celery isn't a fruit.

Neither is radish, cabbage, spinach, rhubarb.

There's a whole bunch of other stuff to deal with here and even though we've taken a good

amount out of this food category, we still have work to do.

If even the science dedicated to naming the thing is utterly unhelpful, things aren't

looking too good for veggies.

But at least by knocking out all the fruits, we can agree that any part of the plant that

isn't the reproductive portion of the flower is fair game.

Thing is, this actually blows the whole thing wide open.

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And now that you're on your way to making that bread, let me show you how it is a vegetable.

Because now we got to talk about grains.

Yeah, grains are plants.

Grains are the seeds of plants called cereals, wheat, rice, corn, barley, all grains, all

parts of plants.

Those grains are collected, ground into the fine powder we know as flour, mixed with water

and yeast, and voila, bread.

So Matt's crazed deep dive into the history of the world according to bread?

No siree, it's the history of the world according to vegetables.

But grains are seeds.

And seeds aren't vegetables, right?

They aren't technically part of the plant.

If anything, they're actually part of the fruit.

Well, setting that can of worms aside for a moment, there are plenty of seeds that actually

are considered vegetables though.

You have peas, pretty much every bean, and also, weirdly enough, corn.

So we can't make the blanket distinction of removing seeds from the vegetable category.

Oh no, did I just redefine bread as fruit?

Luckily for my sanity, no.

One thing that all those seeds I listed have in common is that they come from herbaceous

plants that do not produce fruits in the botanical sense.

They don't develop in the fruit so the seeds and bread can comfortably fall within the

grains category they're already in.

But they won't be alone for long.

See, we've knocked out a huge number of foods formerly known as vegetables and assigned

them to fruit categories.

But we are left with a lot of stuff that's considered hallmarks of the vegetable category.

Things like celery, spinach, and carrots.

The easiest one of those to peel off and send packing is carrots, which are not and never

have been a vegetable.

Carrots, along with garlic, beets, potatoes, yams, and anything else you can dig up is

a geophyte.

Botanically, geophytes are plants with a bulb where they store energy.

Think everything from spring onions to tulips to potatoes and include a big category of

foods that have been misclassified as vegetables.

These are what we would usually consider starchy vegetables.

But they're nothing like vegetables like celery or green beans and their taste, texture,

or nutrition content.

They're way closer to bread than they are to spinach.

So much so that on some things like a keto diet, these kinds of foods like carrots, beets,

potatoes, and even onions are off limits.

If you still need any convincing on this one, the USDA is considering reclassifying potatoes

as a grain in 2025 because they make no sense as a vegetable.

Everything in this category already is or is soon to be recognized for what it is.

Basically a very planty bread.

Instead of greens, this category should from now on be known as the seeds and starches.

So we've jettisoned most of the former veggies into either fruits or seeds and starches.

Is that it?

What's left then?

Well, there is a group of foods remaining, much smaller than we originally started with,

that pretty much all fall into the category of stems and leaves.

Makes you feel like you're just chomping on your own backyard, doesn't it?

Not that appealing.

Some of the most common veggies in our collective diets come from this remaining category.

And at the end of the day, this is the closest we actually come to a vegetable in the real world.

All your leaves, spinach, kale, cabbage, kohlrabi, mustard greens, collard greens,

watercress, chickweed, which is a real thing, are all exactly what they look like.

Leaves, celery, rhubarb, bamboo, sugarcane, they're all the stems.

Finally, a category of things that actually make sense to fit together.

These two groups of food items are eaten because they're high in fiber,

extremely low in calories, and sometimes have the added kick of

an additional mineral like iron or calcium.

If there were anything in the world that actually qualified as a vegetable,

these would probably be it.

That said, we've already shown that the definition of a vegetable is scorched earth.

The gum I chewed this morning was probably a vegetable by today's standards.

So actually, it would be much more appropriate to take this small group of food items

by a botanically appropriate name, stems and leaves.

Not only does this actually tell you what you're eating,

it makes no bones about the idea that it's probably gonna be uncomfortably good for you.

And if you have any hope of making it to an empty plate,

you better be ready to cook these things in a lot of butter.

It's honest, it's straightforward, and it's not vegetables.

Because there's no such thing as a vegetable.

In the end, what you thought were vegetables 15 minutes ago have never been

and will continue to never be what popular culture tells you is a vegetable.

Because nutritionally, botanically, and even with the smallest modicum of common sense,

it's clear that they fit into practically every other food category,

leaving no need for vegetable to be one.

So the next time you pick up a carrot, know that you're eating a starch.

The next time you're craving a fruit,

there's a cucumber right there in contention with apples and oranges.

And when someone tries to call broccoli a vegetable,

kindly let them know that there's no such thing.

You're eating a flower, covered in a lot of cheese, hopefully.

Just like so many other topics on this channel,

knowing that there's no such thing as a vegetable

can free you from this idea that you have to eat them without actually knowing why.

Now you can choose your foods based on what they're actually doing for your body

and what part of the plant they're coming from.

Not because they came out of some random assortment of fruits, roots,

and stems that are all completely different and give your body completely different things.

And just like the archaic food pyramid, which is now just a plate,

it's time to phase out the word vegetable from our vocabulary,

never to be used again as a gatekeeper to all things sweet post-dinner.

But until then, the next time your mom tells you to eat your vegetables,

feel free to spring for that handful of breadsticks.

But hey, that's just a theory.

A food theory.

Bon Appetit.