Which food group do mushrooms fit into?

Mushrooms are fungi that grow in the dark and release spores to replicate themselves. Mushrooms are usually sold in the vegetable sections of grocery stores. However, they are not true vegetables because they do not have leaves, seeds or roots.

More than 38,000 mushroom varieties exist. Some of the most common types of mushrooms include button mushrooms, chanterelle mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and cremini mushrooms.

Individuals eat mushrooms raw in salads or cooked in dishes such as pizza, lasagna and grilled vegetable kebabs. Mushrooms are also common ingredients in soups, casseroles, stir-fry dishes and raw vegetable platters.