According to Dr. Andrew Weil
"Root vegetables (with the exception of potatoes and carrots) are some of the most overlooked and under-appreciated foodstuffs around. But these nutritional storehouses are hidden treasures worthy of your notice. Not only are they available in winter when other vegetables are hard to find, they are also very inexpensive. Experiment with turnips, rutabagas, beets and parsnips, and learn what they have to offer in taste and versatility. Rutabaga (also known as swede) is an accidental vegetable - the result of a chance hybridization of turnips and cabbage. Like carrots, they're low in sodium and high in vitamin C. The flavor of all root vegetables will be enhanced by selecting fresh, firm produce (preferably organically grown) and storing it carefully. Turnips and potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark place out of the refrigerator. The rest of these roots will keep well in the refrigerator for at least a week."
I am very glad that the esteemed Dr. Weil concurs with me on the wonder of root veggies. I have always loved the earthy flavor of carrots and beets. Turnips eaten raw, in salads, or roasted with other roots or in place of potatoes in stews and soups, are delicious! Parsnips, rutabagas, burdock, celeriac and kohlrabi are more "exotic" cousins but they have their place, too. Jicama from across the border adds crunch and nutrition to most any dish. Too bad many Americans hardly ever put these nutritional powerhouses to work in their diets.
If you are going to be a "foodie" you have to be broadminded enough to try everything at least once, so if you are one of those people who eschews root veggies, think again. Root vegetables are what is in "season" in the wintertime in most climates. Think back to what your ancestors ate once the weather turned and there wasn't much left in the garden. They stored root vegetables for the lean months and in some cases, even survived particularly extreme winters by eating roots.
I think of food like a living being and root vegetables are the feet, the foundation. Like other "feet", they are usually not the prettiest things to look at, are greatly under appreciated when they are thought about and are sometimes completely ignored. Root veggies should be one of the foundations of our diet, just like our feet are the foundation on which we stand.
