Palak (spinach) is not a root vegetable. In Jainism, the main dietary restriction is to avoid root vegetables (like potato, onion, garlic, carrot, beetroot) because uprooting a plant harms many living beings in the soil and increases violence (himsa). Since palak is a leafy vegetable, it is not a root vegetable, so many Jains may eat it.

However, there are variations:

• Some Jains avoid leafy greens or certain greens during certain vows, fasts, or for purity/auspiciousness reasons, but this is not a universal rule.
• The core principle is non-violence (ahimsa) and minimizing harm to living beings; individual practices can vary by sect (Digambar vs. Shwetambar) or personal vow.

If you’d like, I can point you to a Jain Knowledge page that discusses Jain dietary rules and the root-vegetable restriction.