Despite having the word “nut” in its name, a coconut is a fruit — not a nut. In fact, a coconut falls under a subcategory known as drupes, which are defined as fruits that have an inner flesh and seed surrounded by a hard shell. This includes a variety of fruits, such as peaches, pears, walnuts, and almonds ( 2 ).
Is a coconut a seed or a fruit?
Botanically speaking, a coconut is a fibrous one-seeded drupe, which is a fruit with a hard stony covering enclosing the seed. A seed is the reproductive unit of a flowering plant. From a reproductive point of view, a seed has two basic parts: the embryo root (hypocotyl) and the embryo leaves (epicotyl).
What food group is coconut flakes in?
Nut and Seed Products
Coconut, shredded, unsweetened (desiccated) is a member of the Nut and Seed Products USDA nutritional food group.
What fruit family is coconut in?
palm family
coconut, edible fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a tree of the palm family (Arecaceae). Coconuts probably originated somewhere in Indo-Malaya and are one of the most important crops of the tropics.
Is a coconut considered a nut?
Despite having the word “nut” in its name, a coconut is a fruit — not a nut. In fact, a coconut falls under a subcategory known as drupes, which are defined as fruits that have an inner flesh and seed surrounded by a hard shell. This includes a variety of fruits, such as peaches, pears, walnuts, and almonds ( 2 ).
Is coconut part of the nut family?
Even though coconut isn’t a nut, some people who are allergic to tree nuts (like almonds, cashews, and walnuts) are also allergic to coconut. But others are not. So talk to your doctor to see if coconut is OK for you. Until then, avoid coconut.
What are the food groups?
As the MyPlate icon shows, the five food groups are Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy.
What foods are in the protein group?
What foods are in the Protein Foods Group? All foods made from seafood; meat, poultry, and eggs; beans, peas, and lentils; and nuts, seeds, and soy products are part of the Protein Foods Group. Beans, peas, and lentils are also part of the Vegetable Group.
What foods are in the fruit group?
Other Fruits
- apples. apricots.
- bananas. Buddha’s hand.
- fruit cocktail. grapefruit.
- grapes. guava.
- mangoes. mangosteen.
- oranges. papaya.
- peaches. pears.
- plums. pluots.
Is a coconut a stone fruit?
Botanically, the coconut is classified as a fruit–more specifically, it is a drupe. Drupes are more commonly called stone fruits. Other stone fruits include peaches and nectarines; blackberries and raspberries are drupes comprised of aggregates of drupelets.
What food group is coconut milk?
Nut and Seed Products
Coconut is a member of the Nut and Seed Products USDA nutritional food group.
What else is a drupe?
A drupe is a type of fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell (what we sometimes call a pit) with a seed inside. Some examples of drupes are peaches, plums, and cherries—but walnuts, almonds, and pecans are also drupes.
Can people with nut allergy eat coconut?
The botanical distance between coconuts and tree nuts would suggest that people with tree nut allergy should be able to tolerate coconut and studies have shown that this is generally true. Therefore, there is no general recommendation that patients with tree nut allergy should avoid coconut.
Is coconut OK in a nut free school?
Generally, coconut is allowed at nut-free schools because although the FDA lists coconut as a tree nut, it usually does not typically need to be restricted in the diets of people with nut allergies. Some people do have allergies to coconut, so always ask the school before bringing a coconut.
Is coconut A top 8 allergen?
The law identifies eight major food allergens, one of which is tree nuts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes coconut as a tree nut, and thus an allergen that must be declared.
What are coconuts related to?
Botanically, coconuts are most closely related to other palms and betel nuts. They come from coconut palm trees and are not closely related to most other tree nuts.
Is coconut a common allergen?
Coconut allergy is relatively rare
The presence of the letters “nut” does not mean that coconut will trigger an allergic reaction in people allergic to peanut or tree nuts. Allergies to peanut and tree nuts are relatively common compared to allergies to coconut which are very rare.
What nut is not a tree nut?
Nutmeg, water chestnut, butternut squash and shea nuts are not tree nuts (the term “nut” does not always indicate a tree nut) and are generally well tolerated by tree nut-allergic individuals.
What are the 7 groups of food?
There are more than 40 different kinds of nutrients in food and they can generally be classified into the following 7 major groups:
- Carbohydrates.
- Proteins.
- Fats.
- Vitamins.
- Minerals.
- Dietary fibre.
- Water.
What food group is a banana?
Fruits
Fruits include bananas, grapes, oranges, and apples. Fruits come from plants. Fruits have seeds. Fruits are important to us. They give us vitamins and minerals.
What are the 6 groups of food?
The 6 Major Food Groups
- Whole grains and starchy vegetables.
- Fruits and non-starchy vegetables.
- Dairy and non-dairy alternatives.
- Fish, poultry, meat, eggs and alternatives.
- Heart-healthy oils.
- Elective or Discretionary Calories.