Marinara Sauce a Veggie?

melissaag1984
melissaag1984 Posts: 83
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
So last night my FH and I were debating this. When you are tracking your daily veggies and have Marinara sauce, not meat sauce, with pasta do you count that as a veggie. I would think yes, it is afterall basically tomatoes and spices. He says no because it has other stuff in it and "preservatives" even though I make my own so there are really no preservatives.

So who wins? Veggie or no?

Replies

  • Luludog1
    Luludog1 Posts: 119
    I just googled it and looks like if its homemade its a veggie but if packaged its not? not sure if that helps
  • PureAndHealthy
    PureAndHealthy Posts: 539
    It counts as a serving of vegetables
  • MattySparky
    MattySparky Posts: 771
    preservatives are not a food group, there is no argument.
  • melissaag1984
    melissaag1984 Posts: 83
    haha preservative...I agree I love when I am right! lol thanks.
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    Even if it contains preservatives, it's made from tomatoes, which are a fruit.
    So, no, not a veggie.
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    Even if it contains preservatives, it's made from tomatoes, which are a fruit.
    So, no, not a veggie.

    While tomatoes are technically a fruit, the USDA still considers them a vegetable because of how it is typically consumed. Most people consume tomatoes the same as other vegetables, not fruits. Even the dictionary listed tomatoes under the definition of vegetable.
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    Even if it contains preservatives, it's made from tomatoes, which are a fruit.
    So, no, not a veggie.

    While tomatoes are technically a fruit, the USDA still considers them a vegetable because of how it is typically consumed. Even the dictionary listed tomatoesMost people consume tomatoes the same as other vegetables, not fruits.

    But...it IS a fruit...it has seeds. And is high in sugar.
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    But...it IS a fruit...it has seeds. And is high in sugar.

    I wasn't debating that it is technically a fruit. But the definition of vegetable is so broad that there are plenty of plant based food that fit the definitions of both fruit and vegetable. And then there are grains, which are the fruits of grasses but listed in a separate category from other fruit. I would imagine that is why the USDA classifies these food based on how they are consumed. Corn is another example of the USDA classifying this way. Milled corn is considered a grain while fresh and cooked corn is considered a vegetable. IMO, a person can classify a tomato as either when it comes to planning their diet.
  • dothompson
    dothompson Posts: 1,184 Member
    Sure, if you know what's in it and it's healthy.

    So your friends theroy is that by simply adding basil, oregano and garlic, tomatoes and onions stop being vegetables???

    If you eat it in a restaurant and it has more olive oil than tomatoes then your friend would have a point.
  • tabbydog
    tabbydog Posts: 4,925 Member
    So, just to be a jerk, if I eat applesauce with my meal (with pork chops for example) does that make an apple a vegetable? LOL Just joking..... :bigsmile:

    A tomatoe is a fruit so it is a fruit. A rose by any other name and all that. That is like saying my dog is a human because he sleeps in my bed. No, he is still a dog, he is just more comfy than most..... :laugh: :laugh:

    Sorry, I'll leave you to it now.....
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    So, just to be a jerk, if I eat applesauce with my meal (with pork chops for example) does that make an apple a vegetable? LOL Just joking..... :bigsmile:

    A tomatoe is a fruit so it is a fruit. A rose by any other name and all that. That is like saying my dog is a human because he sleeps in my bed. No, he is still a dog, he is just more comfy than most..... :laugh: :laugh:

    Sorry, I'll leave you to it now.....

    Oooh...can chocolate cake be a complex carbohydrate if I eat it on the plate with my chicken breast?!?!? :laugh:
  • tabbydog
    tabbydog Posts: 4,925 Member

    Oooh...can chocolate cake be a complex carbohydrate if I eat it on the plate with my chicken breast?!?!? :laugh:

    Oh, most definitely!

    See what kind of sillyness can be started with a simple, innocent question...... :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    So, just to be a jerk, if I eat applesauce with my meal (with pork chops for example) does that make an apple a vegetable? LOL Just joking..... :bigsmile:

    A tomatoe is a fruit so it is a fruit. A rose by any other name and all that. That is like saying my dog is a human because he sleeps in my bed. No, he is still a dog, he is just more comfy than most..... :laugh: :laugh:

    Sorry, I'll leave you to it now.....

    Maybe when it comes to botany, a fruit is a fruit. Food preparation is different. Here's a link to Wikipedia's fruit & veggie pages. They talk about how the way plants are defined botanically is not synonymous with food preparation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable

    And when we're talking about your dog, no one is considering his nutritional value, so not the same comparison.
  • LittleSpy
    LittleSpy Posts: 6,754 Member


    Maybe when it comes to botany, a fruit is a fruit. Food preparation is different. Here's a link to Wikipedia's fruit & veggie pages. They talk about how the way plants are defined botanically is not synonymous with food preparation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    Ah yes, Wikipedia. The source of all facts.
    You do know Wikipedia is written by whoever wants to write something, right? Some of it's backed up with appropriate sources. Most of it isn't. Just for your information.

    Edit: I despise Wikipedia.
  • tabbydog
    tabbydog Posts: 4,925 Member
    Sorry, I was just being silly. Everyone's so serious. Gheesh. :tongue:

    I don't really care what a tomatoe is, it is yummy, and good for you!
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member


    Maybe when it comes to botany, a fruit is a fruit. Food preparation is different. Here's a link to Wikipedia's fruit & veggie pages. They talk about how the way plants are defined botanically is not synonymous with food preparation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    Ah yes, Wikipedia. The source of all facts.
    You do know Wikipedia is written by whoever wants to write something, right? Some of it's backed up with appropriate sources. Most of it isn't. Just for your information.

    There are plenty of sources out there. I've done the research. Wikipedia actually has very good info on these two subjects from what I've read on countless other sites. But, if you don't trust the source I've listed and you really want to know yourself, you can always put the effort forth to research it yourself.
  • LittleSpy
    LittleSpy Posts: 6,754 Member

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    Ah yes, Wikipedia. The source of all facts.
    You do know Wikipedia is written by whoever wants to write something, right? Some of it's backed up with appropriate sources. Most of it isn't. Just for your information.

    There are plenty of sources out there. I've done the research. Wikipedia actually has very good info on these two subjects from what I've read on countless other sites. But, if you don't trust the source I've listed and you really want to know yourself, you can always put the effort forth to research it yourself.

    I shouldn't even have to say this, but I didn't mean anything toward you personally or even really toward your post or this topic at all, actually. I was discrediting Wikipedia. I prefer to discourage the distribution of misinformation (by no means insinuating you don't). Even though Wikipedia may have some value, particularly the value of leading folks to actual citable sources, it is not itself an appropriate source for citation. So many people don't understand that the articles on Wikipedia are written by its users and that ANYONE can change the information in those articles. While there are, of course, mistakes in regular encyclopedias and research papers and any other citable source, Wikipedia is particularly flawed because of it's setup.
  • melissaag1984
    melissaag1984 Posts: 83
    OK I think this has gotten out of hand. Thank you to those who answered my question. I don't think anyone means to be offensive to anyone. Remember, it is impossible to read somone's tone with 100% accuracy when reading a post online. Take everything with a grain of salt.
  • melissaag1984
    melissaag1984 Posts: 83
    Oh and yes I know that a tomato is technically a fruit, but agree that most people include it in their diet as a veggie and not a fruit. Meaning people don't eat a tomato, usually, the way one would eat say an apple or grapes. But again, thanks.
  • PureAndHealthy
    PureAndHealthy Posts: 539
    All I know is on the RAGU jar it plainly says "1 full serving of VEGETABLES in each 1/2 cup!" :laugh: And check out the *tomato* and *tomato juice* on the vegetable list of the USDA list of what constitutes a serving or fruits and vegetables. http://nutrition.about.com/od/fruitsandvegetables/f/servingfruit.htm Tomatoes and corn may technically be fruit and grain, but they count as servings of VEGGIES! So YAY!!! Cuz I eat plenty of them! :laugh:
  • tabbydog
    tabbydog Posts: 4,925 Member
    :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    OK I think this has gotten out of hand. Thank you to those who answered my question. I don't think anyone means to be offensive to anyone. Remember, it is impossible to read somone's tone with 100% accuracy when reading a post online. Take everything with a grain of salt.

    When I make my homemade tomato sauce, I add an onion, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, 1 cup zuchini, 1 cup mushrooms, 2/3 carrots shredded, and it makes a yummy tomato sauce. I eat 1 cup of pasta with 2 cups of sauce and you bet your bippy I count it as 2 of my veggies for the day!!

    Now I want to make some 'mater sauce:laugh: :happy: :laugh:
  • MattySparky
    MattySparky Posts: 771
    Lets all argue about who knows more! I mean that's why we're here right? This thread sucks now.
  • arewethereyet
    arewethereyet Posts: 18,702 Member
    Lets all argue about who knows more! I mean that's why we're here right? This thread sucks now.

    IF your happy and you know it clap your hands, clap* clap*

    :laugh: I read the rules and nowhere does it state you MUST read or comment in a thread.

    Have a nice day :flowerforyou:
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