Roots, Leaves, and Seeds for Dinner: Linking Ideas

Plant Parts on the Dinner Table

1When my family sits down for dinner, we are eating parts of plants. A plant has parts such as roots, stems, leaves, and seeds, and people eat every one of these parts. Knowing which part you are eating can make any meal more interesting.

2Some vegetables are roots. For example, carrots, beets, and radishes all grow underground as roots. Roots soak up water from the soil to keep the plant alive. Many roots are also full of stored food, because the plant saves energy there to use later. Another root my dad likes is the sweet potato, which he roasts on Sundays.

3Leaves are a part of plants that people eat almost every day. Lettuce, spinach, and cabbage are all leaves. Some leaves are eaten raw in salads, and others are cooked in soups or stir-fries. Leaves matter to a plant because they use sunlight to make food. Many herbs are leaves, too. For example, my grandmother tears fresh basil leaves over her tomato soup.

4Stems hold a plant up and carry water from the roots to the leaves. Asparagus spears are young stems that are picked before they grow tall. Another stem may surprise you, since a potato is not a root at all. It is a swollen stem that grows underground, and it also stores food for the plant.

5Many of the foods we eat are seeds. Peas, beans, and corn kernels are all seeds. Seeds are packed with food because a young plant needs energy to start growing. Rice is also a seed, and it is a main food for many families around the world.