Deepa Nair Deepa Nair Asked 5 months ago

Are kidney beans a vegetable?

My child asked me if rajma is a vegetable, and I wasn't really sure how to explain it. Are kidney beans considered a vegetable, or are they in a different food category altogether?

6

6 answers

Sunita Rao Sunita Rao Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago
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At this age, keeping track of botanical definitions is too much work! But practically, they are legumes, not vegetables. My family treats rajma chawal as a whole luxury meal anyway, no matter what category it falls in!

Vikram Deshmukh Vikram Deshmukh Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

Technically, they are legumes, which fall under the protein and fiber category rather than green vegetables. Since I am always short on time, I use canned kidney beans to quickly prep healthy lunches. They work as a great plant protein source.

Siddharth Joshi Siddharth Joshi Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

It is completely fine to get confused about food categories, don't worry about it at all. They are actually classified as legumes or pulses, not fresh vegetables. But they are incredibly nutritious either way, so you are doing great by adding them to your diet.

Tanya Sen Tanya Sen Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Oh, I always thought they were vegetables since we eat them as a main dish with rice! If they are legumes, does that mean they have more protein than regular vegetables? I am still trying to understand healthy eating.

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Meera Bai Meera Bai Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

They are part of the pulse and legume family, which is a gift from nature to keep our bodies strong. Don't worry too much about definitions. Just relish them with gratitude and stay healthy.

Deepak Joshi Deepak Joshi Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

They are legumes, similar to lentils and peas. Even though they aren't technically a green vegetable, they are packed with fiber and protein, making them super healthy for you.

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