Do legumes count as vegetable servings?

Nutrition Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Dr. Feigenbaum!

In the US Dietary Guidelines, it is mentioned that legumes, such as lentils and beans, can count towards protein and vegetable servings. My question is if something like the following approach would be valid to reach the current fruit and vegetable intake recommendation:

1 serving beans
1 serving lentils
1 apple
1 banana
1 serving grapes
1 serving lettuce
1 serving broccoli
1 serving spinach

Thanks in advance! I am a big fan of your work.

1 Like
2

I don’t think they count as vegetables from a phytonutrient standpoint, but if you want to increase your dietary fiber, which is one of the main goals of increasing fruit and vegetable intake, that’s fine.

3

Along the same lines, if I am getting 30-35g of fiber with only 4-5 servings of fruits/vegetables, should it be a priority to add more? I find it difficult to eat a lot of vegetables, but I can easily hit my fiber goal just in the first half of the day with oatmeal/raspberries/blueberries/banana at breakfast (15-18g) and a Chipotle bowl with rice and beans at lunch (12-15g), with whatever I get in my evening two meals as a bonus.

4

I think this is fine, Shem.

5

Thanks; glad to have one less thing to worry about.