Are French Fries a Vegetable?
Most people would consider French fries to be a vegetable, but are they really? Let’s take a deeper look into this delicious side dish’s classification.
What Is a Vegetable?
The popular debate surrounding French fries inevitably leads us to ask, what is a vegetable? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a vegetable is “a usually herbaceous plant (such as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part, usually eaten as part of a meal”.
Are French Fries a Vegetable?
By the strictest definitions, French fries may technically be considered vegetables, as they are made from potatoes. However, many take fuller nutritional value into account when defining a vegetable, which is often viewed as being full of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. In comparison, French fries are usually fried and heavily salted or seasoned, often becoming a wholesome side dish counterbalanced with a meal.
Additional Considerations
When considering whether French fries are a vegetable, it is also important to note that a potato is in the same botanical family as tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. This means that French fries share some of the same vitamins and minerals as other vegetables. However, there is often a significant nutritional difference between French fries cooked at home and those purchased from a restaurant or fast food joint.
Conclusion
To sum it up, French fries may technically be considered vegetables, as potatoes fall under the “usually herbaceous” category. However, it is important to note the nutritional value of French fries and take other considerations into account, such as if they are fried and highly processed, when making the determination.
