Is Edamame A Vegetable?

Answer

The short answer is yes! Edamame is part of the beans, peas and lentils vegetable subgroup (defined by both the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate). There are 5 vegetable subgroups – dark green; red & orange; beans, peas & lentils; starchy; other vegetables.

The beans, peas and lentils subgroup is made up of the dried seeds of legumes (a type of plant that includes pods). Some examples include beans (black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, lima beans, etc.), dried peas (chickpeas, black-eyed peas, split peas, etc) and lentils. Although edamame is eaten fresh and not dried, it is still considered part of this vegetable subgroup.

The nutrition found in beans, peas and lentils are similar to foods in both the vegetable and the protein foods group.

A serving of edamame is one cup. Edamame is a complete protein, providing about 18 grams in just one cup. It also provides fiber and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which can be helpful for heart health.

Here are the Top 10 Ways To Enjoy Edamame!