Root Vegetables ...
Not to be confused with Tubers, roots vegetables are the part of a plant that anchors it into the ground and delivers nutrients and water to the stalk and leaves above ground.
The more common root vegetables are beets, carrots, celeriac, parsnip, sweet potato, and turnip. Here are the nutrition profiles for these bird-friendly root vegetables.
BEETS: Both the roots and the greens are edible; beets are a good source of fiber, manganese, and folate, a B vitamin.
CARROTS: Low in calories, carrots provide soluble and insoluble fiber, potassium, iron, and vitamin B6. Carrots provide large amounts of carotenoids, mostly beta carotene but also alpha and gamma carotenes, lutein, and zeaxanthin. The deeper the orange color, the more carotenoids a carrot has.
CELERIAC (Celery Root): A good source of: calcium, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin D, zinc.
PARSNIP: The parsnip is a member of the Umbelliferae family which includes carrots, celery, chervil, fennel, and parsley. This root provides good amounts of vitamin C and folate along with respectable amounts of thiamin, vitamin E, iron, and magnesium.
SWEET POTATO: Sweet potatoes are edible roots, not tubers like potatoes. They are members of the morning glory family and provide large amounts of vitamins B6 and C, iron, and potassium. The sweet potato is a great source of vitamin E. Since it's orange it also provides beta carotene and the darker orange the flesh, the more beta carotene. (BTW ... the tropical white-fleshed varieties of sweet potato have little to no beta carotene.)
TURNIP: A relative of cabbage, the turnip root is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates. Turnips are also cultivated for their greens, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. contains modest amounts of protein and a surprisingly high concentration of Vitamin C. Related to Rutabagas which are likely a cross between turnips and wild cabbage
