Plants have many different parts, and people eat more of them than you might think! Some foods come from roots underground, while others come from leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, or seeds. Every part of a plant has an important job helping the plant grow and survive.

Roots grow underground and collect water and nutrients from the soil. Some roots grow large enough to store energy for the plant. Carrots, radishes, beets, and sweet potatoes are all roots that people can eat. Root vegetables are often crunchy and full of nutrients.

Leaves help plants collect sunlight so they can make food. Many leafy plants are eaten in salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, and herbs like parsley are all examples of leaves people eat. Some leaves are soft while others are crisp and crunchy.

Stems help hold plants upright and carry water through the plant. Celery and asparagus are stems that people eat. Some stems are thick and crunchy, while others are soft and tender. Plants also grow flowers, and some flowers can be eaten too! Broccoli and cauliflower are actually flower buds before they fully bloom.

Many foods people call “vegetables” are actually fruits because they grow where the seeds are found. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, and squash are fruits from plants. Seeds are eaten too! Corn, peas, beans, sunflower seeds, rice, and nuts all come from seeds that help grow new plants.

Try It!

Open your refrigerator, pantry, or kitchen with the help of an adult and search for foods from different plant parts. Try to find at least:

• One root
• One leaf
• One stem
• One fruit
• One seed

Place the foods into groups and see how many different plant parts you can discover. You may be surprised by how many kinds of plants you already eat!

Next, draw a simple plant on paper and label the roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Then draw foods next to the matching plant parts.

For an extra challenge, make a snack or meal using foods from several different parts of a plant. You could add lettuce leaves, carrot roots, cucumber fruits, celery stems, or sunflower seeds all on one plate!