Understanding What Are the Types of Food from Plants

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, plants are a primary source of food for humans globally, providing the foundation for many diets. Understanding what are the types of food from plants can help you build a more nutritious and sustainable diet.

Quick Summary

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of food derived from plants, exploring categories such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It details their nutritional significance, culinary uses, and a comparative analysis to help inform dietary choices.

Key Points

Fruits: Botanically, fruits contain seeds, including common savory items like tomatoes and peppers; culinarily, they are typically sweet like berries and apples.
Vegetables: This category includes any edible part of a plant not a fruit, such as roots (carrots), stems (celery), leaves (spinach), and flowers (broccoli).
Grains: Edible seeds from the grass family, including cereals like wheat, rice, and oats, provide carbohydrates for energy.
Legumes: Members of the bean family, such as lentils, chickpeas, and peas, are valuable sources of plant-based protein and fiber.
Nuts and Seeds: These offer concentrated energy, healthy fats, and protein, and include examples like walnuts, almonds, and chia seeds.
Herbs and Spices: Used for flavor, these plant products also provide beneficial antioxidants, adding depth to meals.

Introduction to Plant-Based Foods

Plant-based foods are a cornerstone of human nutrition, providing essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and energy. Beyond the commonly recognized fruits and vegetables, the spectrum of edible plants includes a wide variety of items from different botanical categories, each with distinct nutritional profiles and culinary applications. Exploring these diverse food types reveals the breadth of plant-based eating and its health benefits.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits

Botanically, a fruit develops from the flower's ovary and contains the seeds. This includes foods often used in savory dishes, such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squashes. From a culinary perspective, however, fruits are typically sweet and fleshy, like apples, berries, and citrus. They are generally high in natural sugars, water, and vitamin C. Examples include:

Stone Fruits: Peaches, plums, and cherries.
Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
Citrus Fruits: Oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
Tropical Fruits: Bananas and pineapples.

Vegetables

Vegetables encompass any other edible part of a plant. They are classified based on the specific part of the plant they come from, offering a wide range of nutritional benefits. This diverse category includes roots, stems, leaves, and flowers.

Root Vegetables: Carrots, potatoes, and radishes.
Leafy Greens: Spinach, lettuce, and kale.
Stem Vegetables: Celery and asparagus.
Flowering Vegetables: Broccoli and cauliflower.

Grains and Legumes

Grains

Grains, including cereals and pulses, are edible seeds primarily from the grass family (Poaceae). They are a staple food for a large portion of the world's population, providing significant amounts of energy from carbohydrates.

Cereal Grains: Wheat, rice, corn, oats, and barley.
Whole Grains: These contain all parts of the seed—the bran, germ, and endosperm—retaining more nutrients and fiber than refined grains.

Legumes

Legumes are the fruits or seeds of plants in the Fabaceae family. They are an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates.

Pulses: Edible seeds from legumes, such as beans, lentils, and peas.
Examples: Chickpeas, black beans, lentils, and peanuts.

Nuts, Seeds, and Others

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts are dry fruits characterized by their woody shell. Seeds, which are enclosed within fruits, are the product of the plant's reproduction. Both are energy-dense and rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber.

Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, and cashews.
Seeds: Chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds.

Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices, derived from various parts of plants, are used to flavor and color food. While consumed in smaller quantities, they contribute antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.

Herbs (leaves): Basil, rosemary, and thyme.
Spices (seeds, bark, roots): Cinnamon, turmeric, and black pepper.

Plant Food Comparison

To highlight the nutritional diversity, here is a comparison of key plant food types.


Food Type	Key Nutrients	Culinary Uses	Example
Fruits	Vitamins (esp. C), fiber, natural sugars	Snacking, desserts, salads	Apple, orange, berries
Vegetables	Vitamins, minerals, fiber	Side dishes, main courses, raw salads	Broccoli, spinach, carrots
Grains	Carbohydrates, fiber, B vitamins	Breads, pasta, cereal	Wheat, rice, oats
Legumes	Protein, fiber, complex carbs	Soups, stews, main dishes	Lentils, chickpeas, beans
Nuts & Seeds	Healthy fats, protein, fiber	Snacking, toppings, butters	Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds

Conclusion

From roots to fruits, the plant kingdom offers a vast array of foods, each contributing uniquely to a healthy diet. By incorporating a variety of these different categories—from the carbohydrate-rich grains to the protein-dense legumes and the vitamin-packed fruits and vegetables—individuals can benefit from a full spectrum of nutrients. A diverse plant-based diet is a key component of overall health and wellness.

Learn more about Plant-Based Nutrition

For more in-depth information on the nutritional aspects of plant-based foods, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This resource offers science-based insights and guidelines to help you make informed dietary choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Botanically, a fruit develops from the flower's ovary and contains seeds, while a vegetable is any other edible part of a plant, such as roots, stems, or leaves. From a culinary standpoint, fruits are often sweet, and vegetables are savory.

The most common types of grains include cereals like wheat, rice, corn, and oats, which are all edible seeds from the Poaceae (grass) family. They form the basis of many global diets.

Yes, nuts and seeds are energy-dense foods rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Examples include walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.

Legumes, nuts, and seeds are particularly rich in plant-based protein. Examples include lentils, chickpeas, black beans, almonds, and chia seeds.

Yes, a well-planned plant-based diet that includes a wide variety of food groups—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds—can provide all the necessary nutrients for a healthy lifestyle.

Pulses are the edible seeds of legume plants. Common examples include chickpeas, lentils, and dried beans. They are an excellent source of fiber and protein.

Many different parts of plants are edible, including the fruits, leaves, roots, stems, and flowers. Common examples are apples (fruits), spinach (leaves), carrots (roots), celery (stems), and broccoli (flowers).