Myth: A Vegetable is a Vegetable is a Vegetable

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Not all vegetables are created equal. 

 

Corn on spoon

Corn on spoon

 

 

Corn on Cob

Corn on Cob

You already knew that.  Some vegetables have more fiber, some have more vitamins, some aren’t vegetables at all.  Wait… What?  Take corn, for instance.  When in its kernel form, corn is classed as a starchy vegetable but when it is ground into meal or flour it becomes a grain.  How crazy is that?

But that brings us to a bigger issue.  When we count the servings of fruits, vegetables, and grains where do we put corn?

Corn is a nutritious grain, cereal, and starchy vegetable, but it is clearly not on the level of quality with other vegetables.  It is more starchy so the USDA has classified it as a starchy vegetable.  Corn has approximately 365 calories per 100 grams.  It is a good source of vitamins and minerals.  It is relatively high in fiber with 7 grams.   

The Bottom Line:  This is not April Fools article.  Corn is very dense in calories for the vitamins and minerals it supplies.  Because you must take in 365 calories to get 7 grams of fiber, I recommend that you limit your corn intake if you are trying to lose weight.  The 50/25/25 rule may help you limit your portion sizes.   

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