Is Wheat a Vegetable? Is it a fruit? Don’t worry! Read our article and find out exactly what it is! We’ve covered all the bases for you.
Have you ever wondered, “Is Wheat a Vegetable?” It’s a common question that might make you scratch your head. Let’s dig into it together and determine what makes wheat different from the veggies you see on your plate.
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What is Wheat?
In botanical terms, wheat is a type of grass that is also widely classified as a grain. The seeds are classified as wheat berries – they are small, usually brown, and have a hard outer shell.
Wheat, when grounded, becomes flour, which is then used in many kinds and types of foods – mainly breads, cakes, cookies, and what not!
- Growing Basics: Wheat reaches a height of about two to four feet, has long, narrow green leaves, and a unique ability to fertilize itself!
- Seed Structure: The outermost layer – Husk, must be removed before using the grain. The bran beneath the husk is high in fiber, while the endosperm contains most of the grain’s carbs and proteins. The germ, the smallest part, holds vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
Botanical Name: Triticum aestivum
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Is Wheat a Vegetable? A Fruit? Or a Grain?
So, Is wheat considered a vegetable? Well, wheat is actually a grain, not a fruit or a vegetable.
Wheat is a grain, not a vegetable. It grows differently, fertilizes itself, and the part we use is the grain, not the leaves or roots.
What Makes Wheat a Grain?
Grains, including wheat, have high carbohydrate content, essential for energy. This is a defining feature of grains as a food group.
- The method of growing and harvesting the wheat is as same as the other cereal grains. After cultivating it in the fields, farmers harvest and process it to separate the edible grain from the chaff (the husk of the grain).
- B vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and dietary fiber are the key components of wheat, which are also what the other grains are rich in.
- Wheat is an important part of the food chain and you will find it in almost everything! Be it bread, pasta, and other bakery products – its versatility further solidifies its classification as a grain.
- Like other grains (rice and corn) wheat has been around for thousands of years. The historical significance and world wide use also support the fact that it is indeed, a grain!
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Is Wheat Grass a Vegetable?
Wheat Grass isn’t your typical vegetable. These baby leaves grow from wheat grains and are called a superfood as they contain amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes—just like leafy greens.
So yeah, it can qualify as nutritious green!
Busting Wheat Myths
Myth 1: Wheat is a Vegetable
Wheat is NOT a vegetable. It grows on a plant but doesn’t have the parts we usually eat, like leaves or stems.
Myth 2: Wheat is a Legume
Wheat isn’t a legume, either. Legumes are characterized by their fruit – typically a pod with seeds inside. Common examples include beans, lentils, peas, and peanuts – and we all know how different they are from wheat!
Myth 3: Wheat is a Refined Carb
Grains that come under the “refined carb” category go through a process that removes the parts like bran and germ. Whole wheat is made up of components like bran, germ, and endosperm – which qualifies it as everything other than a refined carb as a whole.
Myth 4: Wheat is a Fruit
Wheat grains are a type of caryopsis – a seed coat that’s fused to the fruit wall. However, in common usage, “fruit” typically refers to sweet, fleshy products of plants, which is not the case with wheat.
