What are two reasons people should include root vegetables in a healthy diet? Root vegetables are a common staple and are used by people across all continents. Root vegetables can be eaten raw, ripe, mashed, smoked, baked, or fried. The greens of the turnip, the portion that grows above ground, are edible, but many people find them bitter. The root vegetables are rich in minerals, nutrients, and carbohydrates. Root vegetables absorb the flavors of the soil and are filled with special nutrients.