Your grandparents (or great-grandparents) probably had a root cellar for a reason. When food was hard to come by in the winter, root vegetables, such as parsnips, would stay good for months, so long as they were kept in a cool environment. Turns out, these vegetables have more to offer than their shelf stability. They are also a smart fuel.
The Nutritional Value of Parsnips
They are missing some of the pre-vitamin A carotenoids of their show-off sibling, the carrot, but they come loaded with various B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin K. They are also an excellent source of trace minerals, including manganese, phosphorous, potassium, and zinc. Although they are fairly high in sugar, parsnips also come with a healthy serving of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which slows the body’s digestion of carbs and prevents a spike in blood sugar. Fiber is also necessary for maintaining a healthy gut biome and digestive system.