Sweet potatoes are a sweet and starchy root vegetable that are packed full of nutritional value. They are rich in fiber, a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants which can help protect your body against the damages of chronic disease. The high fiber and antioxidants may also contribute to gut health and keep you feeling full longer. They are loaded with beta-carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A and essential to support healthy vision. In addition, Vitamin A helps promote a healthy gut by maintaining healthy mucous membranes in the lining of the gut. Incorporating sweet potatoes into your diet may help prevent Vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to gut inflammation and have an affect on your immune system.
This versatile root vegetable can be incorporated into the diet in a variety of ways. Try out some of the options below, or experiment and find your own creative sweet potato recipe!
Any way you would cook a regular potato, you can do with a sweet potato for some variety and added nutritional value!
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- Baked whole: Baked and then topped with butter and cinnamon
- Mashed: boiled then mashed with butter, milk, and seasoning
- Fries: cut into slices and baked
- Baked Chips: thinly sliced and baked
- Add sweet potato puree to baked goods for added moisture without fat
- Add to overnight oats with seasoning
- Boil and blend into root vegetable soup
- Try making a sweet potato hummus! (see recipe below)
Beta-carotene is a fat-soluble nutrient, so cooking sweet potatoes with a little bit of fat, like coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil will help boost absorption! Even though cooking reduces some beta-carotene content, sweet potatoes retain a high percentage and are considered an excellent source of this nutrient.
No matter how you enjoy your sweet potatoes, adding them to your diet will give a powerful antioxidant boost to your meal plan!
