# Pasta is a vegetable, potatoes are fruit **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970 "2020-01-25T22:01:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/1 "2020-01-25T22:01:34Z")
So now says the Trump administration. First it was Reagan: ketchup is a vegetable Now Trump: paste is a vegetable Because is obesity really that big of a problem? And they repealed Michelle’s noble work _on her birthday_! Ugh, these people. > **[Pasta is now a vegetable in American schools under Trump admin guidelines](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pasta-vegetable-trump-school-lunch-flour-a9301186.html)** > > In gutting of Michelle Obama's signature health policy, USDA proposes that 'pasta made of vegetable flour may credit as a vegetable'  > **[Pasta is now a vegetable in American schools under Trump admin guidelines](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-school-lunch-pastas-vegetables-usda-rules-2020-1)** > > In gutting of Michelle Obama's signature health policy, USDA proposes that 'pasta made of vegetable flour may credit as a vegetable'  ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/2 "2020-01-25T23:39:46Z")
To be fair, it appears that pasta made from vegetable flours can be considered a vegetable, not semolina/wheat pasta. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/3 "2020-01-26T00:23:32Z")
There isn’t that much veggie stuff in vegetable pasta. It’s more for color than nutrition. UNLESS you are talking edamame pasta or chickpea pasta, which I doubt if this pertains to school lunches. Edamame/chickpea pasta is expensive compared to the regular stuff. Potatoes are fruit? In what universe? If you cross the Reagan administration with the Trump administration, French fries and ketchup are a healthy meal of fruit and vegetables? Idiots! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/4 "2020-01-26T06:37:57Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > To be fair, it appears that pasta made from vegetable flours can be considered a vegetable, not semolina/wheat pasta. Not on the context of healthy meals for kids. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/5 "2020-01-26T06:45:30Z")
Well, the “pasta” I eat is 100% vegetables, but it’s a completely different thing. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/6 "2020-01-26T08:19:52Z")
So according to the new rules, pasta counts as a vegetable if it’s made with potato, soy, or other starchy vegetable flours. Potatoes are indeed considered a fruit, but only when served at breakfast. I guess by noon, they’ve turned back into vegetables. Mmmm, nothing like a breakfast burrito with a tall, icy glass of potato juice. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/7 "2020-01-26T18:12:08Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > So according to the new rules, pasta counts as a vegetable if it’s made with potato, soy, or other starchy vegetable flours. Potatoes are indeed considered a fruit, but only when served at breakfast. I guess by noon, they’ve turned back into vegetables. > > Mmmm, nothing like a breakfast burrito with a tall, icy glass of potato juice. Put some acid in that potato juice, or it will turn rusty brown! Before any advors can make changes to the Federal school lunch program, I hereby proclaim they must eat school lunches for their three meals a day, for a month. All the while listening nonstop to Jamie Oliver lecture about child nutrition. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/8 "2020-01-26T18:27:20Z")
I can have a really healthy balanced breakfast of bacon and hash brown, then a really healthy lunch of burger and fries, and spaghetti for dinner! So much fruit and veg, I’m nearly vegetarian! ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/9 "2020-01-26T20:48:05Z")
Along with the “ketchup is a vegetable” thing, I seem to remember Bush 2 ( “W” ) was doing some dog & pony show/photo-op someplace whereby he was touting fast food workers as being in the manufacturing sector. Bit of a reach, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/10 "2020-01-27T21:23:05Z")
It’s a trick question, right? > **[Twenty questions | Popular variants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty_Questions#Popular_variants)** > > A variant is called "animal, vegetable, or mineral". This is taken from the Linnaean taxonomy of the natural world. In this version, the answerer tells the questioners at the start of the game whether the subject belongs to the animal, vegetable or mineral kingdom. These categories can produce odd technicalities,\[clarification needed\] such as a wooden table being classified as a vegetable (since wood comes from trees), or a belt being both animal (if leather) or vegetable (if cloth), and mineral ... ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/11 "2020-01-28T01:17:38Z")
Q: Name Reagan’s favorite vegetable. 1: Freedom-fry potatoes 2: Tomato ketchup 3: James Brady 4: Jelly beans Anything from a plant source could be called “vegetable”, even grain products. Cornbread without butter is vegetarian, right? Just wait till beer and wine are classed as foods suitable for school lunches. I’m surprised industry lobbyists aren’t pushing that. Or are they? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/12 "2020-07-01T13:50:18Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Now Trump: paste is a vegetable A typo has never been truer. CMC ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pasta-is-a-vegetable-potatoes-are-fruit/846970/13 "2020-07-01T14:22:15Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Anything from a plant source could be called “vegetable”, even grain products. Cornbread without butter is vegetarian, right? Cornbread with butter is vegetarian. Vegetarian =/= from plants, you’re thinking of vegan. Vegetarian’ may include animal products that don’t require the animal to die, so milk, eggs and honey, although not all vegetarians eat all of those. Thank you for attending today’s lecture on ‘them weird hippy diets, what’s that all about then?’