Loving the BITE: 3 Sweet Potato Recipes to Fuel You (2024)

FAQs

What is the best time to eat sweet potato for weight loss? ›

However, there is no one specific "best" time to eat sweet potatoes for weight loss. It is more important to focus on the overall balance and timing of your meals throughout the day. Some experts recommend eating a small, balanced meal or snack every 3-4 hours to help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent overeating.

One pound raw fresh sweet potatoes = 3 cups shredded, cubed or sliced = 1 3/4 cups cooked, mashed. Sweet Potatoes have the ability to slow the pro- gress of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is when a part of the eye deteriorates, leaving people with loss of vision.

Sweet Potatoes and Health

Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.

Sweet potato has 60.6 times less saturated fat than oatmeal. Sweet potato is an excellent source of Vitamin A. Oatmeal is a great source of calcium, and it is an excellent source of iron and protein. Both sweet potatoes and oatmeal are high in dietary fiber and potassium.

As we know, sweet potato has several benefits that make it worth including in your weight loss diet. So, by incorporating it into healthy meals and watching your portion sizes, you may find that it does support your weight loss goals and results in getting rid of unwanted belly fat.

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

Savory sweet potato mash can easily be served with any main — roast chicken, slow cooker roast turkey, crispy roast pork and prime rib. They are so versatile you can serve them right along your Green Bean Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Roast Potatoes or Roast Broccoli.

How long sweet potatoes last in normal room temperature depends on many factors, and it's best to keep them in a pantry to last 3–5 weeks. You can also store sweet potatoes in the fridge for 2–3 months, or freeze them to last even longer.

The Bottom Line

You can eat sweet potato skin. It's a good source of fiber, a nutrient that may help lower the risk of heart disease and keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. The next time you make a sweet potato dish, whether it's a roasted side dish or a hearty, cozy casserole, leave the peel on.

Can I eat sweet potato everyday? ›

If knowing the benefits of sweet potatoes has you ready to eat them regularly, you may be wondering if the adage “too much of a good thing” applies. While both our experts say eating a sweet potato a day is certainly healthy, they don't recommend more than that, since there are plenty of other vegetables to enjoy too.

Consuming sweet potatoes in excess can result in sweet potato side effects such as Vitamin A toxicity, which is manifested in skin rashes and headaches. Due to high fibre content, excess intake of sweet potatoes can result in bloating, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

In a nutrition battle between a banana and sweet potato, the sweet potato would come out ahead. A baked sweet potato has the same calories per gram as a banana, yet has one gram more fiber and five grams less sugar per medium serving.

Importantly, sweet potatoes are higher than pasta in dietary fiber, which is beneficial for keeping you feeling fuller for longer. Satiety is an important consideration for those trying to lose weight. One benefit of pasta that you would not get from sweet potatoes is higher protein content.

Sweet potatoes are lower on the glycemic index

This means that potatoes break down more quickly into sugar in your digestive tract, causing your blood sugar to spike. These measures are important because eating foods with a generally lower glycemic index may help lower your blood sugar and manage your weight.

Mindful portions: While sweet potatoes are nutritious, they still contain calories. Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid overconsumption. Aim for one medium-sized sweet potato per serving, which is approximately 130-150 grams or about the size of your fist.

Potatoes Help Your Body Prepare for Sleep

Sweet potatoes still have a moderate impact on blood sugar, but that isn't a bad thing. In fact, the nutrients they contain make them one of the best tryptophan foods for sleep.

Lunch: The best time to eat the sweet potato is to eat at lunch. After eating, calcium in sweet potatoes takes 4-5 hours to absorb into the body, 2 to 5 pm sunlight can promote calcium absorption. In addition, the ability to help the potatoes long enough to work to help you reduce appetite in the evening.

Though your serving might depend on what your health goals are, Alana Kessler, RD, says that a proper serving may be comparable to a clenched-fist worth of sweet potatoes. That's about three to four ounces.