You see them all the time when you visit the supermarket. You probably even eat them on a daily basis. But did you ever stop and wonder how fruits and vegetables are different? Or why we need to eat them in the first place? Believe it or not, fruits and vegetables are categorized based on their biological as well as culinary differences.
If you’re unsure about whether or not something is a fruit or a veggie, be like a botanist and remember a few fundamentals. For one, fruits come from the flowers of plants; vegetables grow from the other parts (e.g. roots). Second, fruits usually contain seeds; whereas veggies consist of leaves, stems, and roots. Third, most fruits are generally sweet, while vegetables are tart or savory. That’s why many desserts and drinks have fruits in them instead of veggies.
Getting your daily required portions of fruits and vegetables is a meal ticket to maintaining a healthy body. Don’t be annoyed by all the doctors and nutritionists telling you to ‘eat your leafy greens’. The right amount everyday can help prevent diseases such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Plus, you can maintain good eyesight, skin, teeth, and bones.
About three servings a day should suffice. Want a clearer picture? Imagine your plate and fill half of that with fruits and veggies. The rest should be carbs and protein. And there you go: a complete, balanced diet so you can stay active no matter how busy you get! Other people like to get their share by turning them into a delicious smoothie. You can do the same. Simply look up recipes online or in a cook book.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Remember: there are lots of great cooking tutorials on the Web to guide you. Excited to whet your appetite? Check out these free, colorful fruits and vegetable photos that will surely leave you craving for one!
Free Fruits and Vegetable Photos
Stand at the local farmers market in Sevastopol full of vegetables.
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Potatoes, onions and many other vegetables displayed for sale.
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The farmers market in Sevastopol full of fresh fruit for sale.
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Placing peaches in containers at a local fresh fruit store in Sevastopol.
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Farmers market full of fresh fruit and a young girl behind the stand.
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Pineapple growing in Koh Phangan, Thailand.
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Fresh watermelon for sale at the night market in Koh Phangan.
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Green grapes growing on a vine.
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Close-up shot of green peppers growing in a garden.
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Growing green bananas photographed in the sunlight.
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Lime cut into small pieces and placed on a wooden board.
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Close-up shot of a pile of garlic in a big bag.
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Shiny organic apples for sale at a grocery store, with green apples in the background.
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Organic fruit and vegetables for sale at a grocery store.
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Fresh and shiny bell peppers for sale at an organic grocery store.
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Differently colored carrots for sale in an organic grocery store.
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Colorful fruit stand full of fresh organic fruit at a grocery store.
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Organic lettuce sprinkled with water for sale at a grocery store.
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Bright lemons for sale at an organic grocery store.
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Blackberries on a bush. Some of them are ripe, and others are just beginning to ripen.
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Beautiful and fresh green tomato growing in front of other green tomatoes.
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A hand holding a blackberry over a basket full of raspberries and blackberries.
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Delicious and fresh raspberries placed in teal containers.
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Green coconuts growing on a palm tree in Koh Phangan, Thailand.
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Pineapples and tangerines arranged for presentation.
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Juicy strawberries, blueberries, and tangerines against a white table.
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