Sweet potatoes provide a sweet and nutritional boost to meals. They are high in beta carotene, an antioxidant that has been linked to improved immunity. Versatile and healthy, sweet potatoes are also easy to prepare.
Reasons to Enjoy Sweet Potatoes
- They contain dietary fiber, helping to maintain a healthy digestive tract and regulate blood sugar.
- One medium sweet potato counts as one cup of vegetables in the MyPlate.gov Vegetable Group.
- They are a good source of many vitamins and minerals, such as and manganese.
- They can be eaten as a savory side dish or a dessert.
Purchase to Preparation
- When purchasing sweet potatoes, they should be heavy for their size, firm, and free of mold, blemishes, and sprouts.
- Look for sweet potatoes with skin that is taught instead of wrinkly.
- Try to store them in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or a basement, and use within two weeks.
- Wash sweet potatoes before preparing to remove dirt or other particles from the skin.
Ideas for Use
Their creamy, sweet consistency makes for a delicious and nutritious ingredient. Try them:
- Soups
- Baked goods, such as breads or muffins
- Grilled
- Boiled
- Baked
- Steamed
- Sweet potato-pecan casserole
- Microwaved
For information about
types of sweet potatoes, nutrition facts, recipes, and more, visit:
The United States Sweet Potato Council
http://www.sweetpotatousa.org
Did You Know?
One medium sweet potato contains 35% of the daily recommended vitamin C and more than 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin A.
For an alternative to white potatoes, try cutting sweet potatoes into cubes, drizzling them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roasting them until soft. Cinnamon and cumin also go well with roasted sweet potatoes.
