Legumes, cereals, pseudo-cereals: Learn to differentiate them!

Cereals are plants grown for their grains, with interesting nutritional properties (complex carbohydrates, proteins, fiber and minerals). This category includes wheat, rice, bulgur and oats, among others.

A pseudo-cereal is a non-graminaceous plant that is used for its seeds in the same way as a cereal (graminaceous/Poaceae). The seeds can be cooked or crushed (flour). Pseudo-cereals do not contain gluten, they include buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa, among others.

Legumes are dried seeds of pod plants, the most famous of which are lentils, white beans, red beans and chickpeas. They have an increased protein, fiber, vitamin or mineral content.

In any case, these three types of seeds are easily cooked hot or cold to delight youngs and olds, flexitarians or even vegetarians!