Are starchy vegetables actually vegetables?

Answer

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the term “vegetable” is generally defined as all plant life or plant products (vegetable matter), more specifically, the edible portion of herbaceous plants (roots, stems, leaves, flowers or fruit). Starchy vegetables and fruit such as cassava root, plantains, potatoes, etc. are usually higher in calories than non-starchy varieties which have higher water contents and fewer calories (cucumber, lettuce, peppers, etc.). That said, starchy vegetables provide great nutrition and fiber, are lower in calories than many other foods, and contain no fat (unless fat has been added during cooking.