I totally LOVE beetroot. I find it funny you call them 'beets' whereas we say 'beetroot'. Canned beetroot on burgers and salad rolls here is a THING.
I love just grating it and eating it in salad, and I eat a lot the beetroot tops that come out of the garden that everyone else seems to throw out!
Beetroot is a better term for describing the base, especially since the leafy green tops are edible as well. The beet greens are best at least slightly cooked because they are high in oxalates which can lead to kidney stones in some people. They're very nutritious; I eat them too.