Sweet Potato Lovin’

It is almost impossible for me to say "no" to a plate of
sweet potato or yam fries. Seriously. All of my self control.
Image: Shutterstock

Is there a food out there that you are in love with? I’m not talking about a food you simply “like a lot” or “enjoy.” Oh no, I’m talking about straight-up food love. Addiction. Obsession. Whatever you want to call it, the symptoms are specific: you can’t get enough of it, almost never say “no,” and have to play down your excitement about it to keep others from thinking you’re crazy.

For me, that food is sweet potatoes. And oh how sweet they are! I love sweet potatoes. I don’t think I’ve ever not enjoyed sweet potatoes in a meal—and if I didn’t like the meal, well, it was probably another food’s fault.

I can hardly believe how fast the summer is going—can you believe it’s August already? Soon enough, we’ll be into September and October. Fall is coming, and with it will come the cooler air and cravings for warm and hearty meals. For me, that means oh so many wonderful ways to incorporate sweet potatoes into my diet.

Sweet potatoes have 438% of your daily value of Vitamin A and contains lots of beta carotene for protecting that beautiful skin of yours. The average sweet potato has 28% more potassium than a banana. Oh yeah, and they’re low in calories, too! If you love sweet potatoes as much as I do, then I hope you can make good use of this “sweet” list of simple recipe ideas. Check it out:

Rosemary Sweet Potato Wedges? Yes, please!
Image: Shutterstock

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad—Lay out a bed of your favorite greens (I prefer spinach, arugula, or a kale mix) and top it with roasted sweet potatoes and bell peppers, goat cheese, and a balsamic dressing.

Gingered Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup—Easy peasy lemon squeezie! Just sauté a chopped onion until it begins to soften, then add vegetable stock, sweet potato, carrot, and ginger. Cook for about 15 minutes, then strain out the veggies, puree, and add broth for desired thickness.

Rosemary Sweet Potato Wedges—Make some home-style fries the sweet way—with sweet potatoes and rosemary! Just chop your sweet potato into wedges, mix together rosemary and melted butter, and spread over the wedges with salt and pepper to taste. Then, bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

If you want to see some more recipes or see the ones above in their entirety, check out this great article by Women’s Health Mag. Test them out and let me know what you think!