In Jainism, many followers consider root vegetables to be problematic because harvesting them often destroys the entire plant and can harm underground life. So, in traditional practice, root vegetables are avoided to minimize violence (ahimsa) to living beings.

Key points:

• General rule: many Jains avoid root vegetables like onion, garlic, potato, carrot, beet, radish, etc.
• Digambar vs. Shwetambar: both traditions emphasize non-violence, but there are differences in strictness. Digambar practice tends to be stricter about roots; some Shwetambar households may be more flexible, especially during fasting or in certain regional communities.
• Practical view: the emphasis is on minimising harm and cultivating purity of thought, speech, and action. If avoiding roots is difficult, many Jain families choose non-root vegetables and rely on fruits, cereals, legumes, leafy greens, and dairy.

If you’d like, I can share the exact texts and their arth (meanings) from Jain scriptures and explain how Digambar and Shwetambar interpretations differ.