A-Z of fruit and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of nutrients and help us stay healthy and fit. They come in many colours, flavours, and shapes, and textures. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of several vitamins and nutrients and a great meal choice to maintain a strong and healthy lifestyle. Numerous kinds of vegetables and fruits are available across the world, with at least one for nearly every letter of the alphabet. Let’s look at the list of fruits and vegetables for children

List  of  fruits and vegetables for children

Fruits  and vegetables start with the letter A

• Apples

Many types of apples are grown worldwide, such as Granny Smith, Royal Gala, Golden Delicious, and Pink Lady. Apples are one of the most popular fruits across the world and a great source of fiber and vitamin C.

• Aubergines

Aubergines are usually teardrop-shaped with shiny purple skin. They have a spongy, creamy-white interior and grow on bushes. They are technically fruits, but not meant to be eaten raw. In Australia and America, aubergines are known as eggplant because some types look a bit like large

 Fruits and vegetables start with the letter B

• Banana

Bananas are a nutritious snack with a convenient yellow peel! They provide energy and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, like potassium, that are beneficial for cell, nerve, and muscle health, as well as for reducing blood pressure. Bananas grow in bunches in tropical areas.

• Beetroot

Beetroot is the root of the beet plant, named after it! It has been cultivated since Roman times. Raw beetroot is healthy and perfect for grating, just remember to peel it! Enjoy it in a salad, sandwich, or even in desserts!

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter C

• Cherries

Cherries grow in pairs on stems and a single tree can yield fruit for as many as 100 years! Bing cherries are delicious by themselves or in a fruit salad. Morello cherries, on the other hand, are more flavorful when cooked.

• Courgette

A courgette is a kind of squash. If not picked early, it turns into a marrow. Courgettes resemble cucumbers and have tender seeds. They can be cooked with onions, tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers to create ratatouille. In America, courgettes are called zucchinis.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter D

• Dates

Dates are fruits from the date palm tree and are plentiful in Egypt. Dried dates are a very sweet snack and are high in fibre. You can chop them up and add them to cereal or bake them into muffins.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter E

• Elderberries

Small dark berries grow on bushes in the UK countryside during summer. They are not tasty when eaten raw, but are delicious when cooked with other fruits in desserts or made into jam.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter F

• Fennel

Fennel is a plant that grows in the ground. A bulb shape grows at the base of the plant, and this is the part you eat. Raw fennel adds a crispy taste to salads. You can also chop it and cook it like onion or celery to use in casseroles.

• Figs

Figs are juicy, sweet fruits with tiny seeds, and they provide a lot of fibre. Their skin is delicate, so ripe figs don’t last long and are usually eaten dried.

 Fruits and vegetables start with the letter G

• Grapes

Fruits like red, green, or purple grapes grow in bunches on vines. They are sweet, juicy, and jelly-like inside. Green grapes are also known as white grapes and are dried to make sultanas.

• Garlic

Garlic can give your breath a strong odour. We consume various parts of plants, and with garlic, we eat the bulb. When you open it, you will find several segments called cloves, each covered in a papery skin. Just one or two of these can enhance the flavour of your food.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter H

• Honeydew melons

Honeydew Melons are yellow fruits that grow on vines on the ground. They have tough outer skin and a tasty, sweet inside that is perfect for a refreshing snack on a hot day.

• Haricot bean

Haricot beans are white beans grown worldwide and can be baked in tomato sauce to make baked beans. They are delicious on toast for breakfast.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter I

• Iceberg lettuce

There are a lot of lettuce options to choose from. Iceberg lettuce has a cool, crisp taste and adds a satisfying crunch to a sandwich. You can also use iceberg lettuce leaves to wrap around cheese or boiled eggs.

Ilama fruit

The Illama fruit is found in Central America. It is a big fruit with a tough skin, but when you slice it open, you can scoop out the delicious flesh from inside.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter J

• Jackfruit

Jackfruit grows on jack trees and can reach up to about 55kg! Canned jackfruit is often used as a meat alternative due to its mild flavour and meat-like texture. Another popular meat substitute is beans, such as in a delicious bean burger.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter K

• Kiwi

Kiwis have a hairy skin and a soft interior. They are green when ripe. A single kiwi provides enough vitamin C for a day.

• Kale

Kale is a type of leafy green veggie that belongs to the cabbage family. It can be green or purple and can be cooked in various ways like boiling, steaming, frying, baking, or eating raw.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter L

• Lemons

Scottish doctor James Lind discovered in 1747 that consuming citrus fruit could help prevent scurvy. Even now, lemons remain an excellent source of vitamin C. You can extract the juice and combine it with water for a refreshing beverage or utilise lemon to enhance the taste of savoury meals like risotto.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter M

• Mangoes

Mangoes vary in shape and size. Remove the skin to enjoy the tender, juicy fruit inside. India produces the largest quantity of mangoes globally. There are over 2,500 varieties of mangoes, which are rich in vitamin C.

• Mushroom

Mushrooms may not be classified as fruit or vegetables, but they are considered one of your 5 A DAY because they are a type of fungus. They taste delicious on toast alongside scrambled eggs and a grilled tomato.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter N

• Nectarines

Peaches with delicate skin and firm flesh should be handled carefully as they can bruise easily, causing the fruit to spoil at the bruised spot.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter O

• Oranges

Oranges are widely loved fruits that thrive in warm, sunny climates like Spain and Italy. Fresh orange juice is a good way to get one of your daily fruit servings.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter P

• Pineapples

It takes about two years to grow a pineapple, so enjoy them! This prickly fruit is made up of many smaller fruits that have fused. The name “pineapple” was chosen by early explorers because they thought the fruit resembled a pinecone.

• Pumpkins

Pumpkins are not just for Halloween – they can be cooked in many ways and are nutritious. They are rich in beta-carotene, which our bodies turn into vitamin A. The seeds are also healthy, containing essential fatty acids.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter Q

• Quince

Quince is related to pears, but it’s not meant to be eaten raw. It pairs nicely with apples in dishes like apple crumble. When cooked, quince gives off a fragrant scent, which some use as an air freshener in their homes or cars.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter R

• Radish

Some radishes are small and red, while others are big, white, and look like carrots. Certain red ones are called Cherry Belle and Scarlet Globe.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter S

• Strawberry

Strawberries belong to the rose family. They are unique because their seeds are on the outside – a single strawberry can contain up to 200 seeds.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter T

• Tomatoes

It’s a fruit, not a vegetable. Choose from common cherry, beef, or plum tomatoes, or try unique varieties like Caspian Pink, Big Mama, and Sunrise Bumble Bee. Tomatoes can be grown easily in a pot in the garden or on a windowsill.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter U

• Ugli

An ugli fruit is a hybrid of a grapefruit and a mandarin. It’s similar in size to a grapefruit, but it’s sweeter and has wrinkled skin that’s easy to peel. This fruit originates from Jamaica and is cultivated in the USA as well.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter V

• Victoria Plums

Plums have different colours, but Victoria plums are dark red. They are cultivated in England and taste sweet when eaten fresh or used in desserts like tarts and crumbles.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter W

• Watermelons

Watermelons grow on the ground and can become very large. They are full of water and are a tasty snack. The flesh is typically pink due to its high lycopene content, which is an antioxidant.

Vegetables and fruits start with the letter Y

• Yams

Yams are eaten as cooked starchy vegetables. They are commonly boiled and mashed into a sticky paste or dough, but they can also be fried, roasted, or baked like potatoes or sweet potatoes, which are not related.

Fruits and vegetables start with the letter Z

• Zucchini

Zucchini is the American name for a courgette. Courgettes are from the squash family and will turn into marrows if not picked early. They resemble cucumbers, have tender seeds, and can be cooked with onions, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers to make ratatouille. Avoid adding them to your fruit salad!

Keep in mind that fruits and vegetables are not just tasty treats, they provide essential nutrients to help you stay strong and healthy. When you go supermarket with an adult, consider trying a new fruit or vegetable. You could find a new flavour you love!

For more such interesting blogs, Visit Mother’s Pet Kindergarten!