Aristotle and Vegetables

I tried to find out about this vegetative business (vegetables as dull, inanimate) first by Googling, where I found a gazillion references to the Bahai faith, religion, alternative religions, evolution, Darwin, etc. My search term was "animal vegetable mineral Aristotle". But, no luck. Then I went to one of my favorites, the Britannica Online, and scanned pages and pages about Aristotle. Extensive history, including Alexander the Great, Logic, Prime Movers, etc., but no vegetable vs. animal vs. mineral discussion.

So here is my wikipedia-type thinking: even though we consider vegetables essential for our health, and want everyone to think of them as delightful, charming, lively sources of nutrition, full of color, life, and energy, the trouble is that they don't, from the Aristotelian point of view, have a soul, or anima. In other words, they are better than rocks, but have no personhood. Even the liveliest leafy green plant, the most colorful rainbow swiss chard, is no better than a baking potato with its rough brown skin and coarse shape.

No wonder people resist eating their vegetables.