Sweet Potatos ?????

junie

I always get good advice/suggestions from the threads...so, here's my question...are sweet potatos more nutritious, better for you than other potatos?    Are they really a potato?   I get confusing answers on my google searches.

I have a real problem going in our house--I need to gain some weight, badly!   And, DH is on diet to lose weight and hopefully get his blood sugars more under control (he's type II) so meal planning is quite a challenge to meet our needs.   I think that I basically cook okay meals...think DH just eats way too much and I just get full after a couple of bites of anything.

I do have Ensure on hand, but find that I often drink it as a meal substitute rather than an addition...

but--the sweet potato question is driving me nuts!!!!   thanks!!!

lexislove

They ARE more healthy than regular potatoes. They are loaded with beta carotine, which is an antioxidant. Try them mashed and add chicken or a vegtable stock instead of butter or milk.I even roast them sometimes sprinkled with olive oil and sea salt.

cp418

http://www.foodreference.com/html/sweet-pot-nutrition.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64

barbe1958

I just had them tonight. My husband does them just like a baked potato, but at my suggestion, he cuts them in half after coming out of the microwave (to pre-cook them) before putting them on the barbecue. Delicious! 

Daffodil

Sweet potatoes, cousin of a carrot, are very good for you! I often mash them with lime juice, honey, and Smart Balance "butter"; sometimes just add a little pure maple syrup; or sprinkle with a spicy seasoing for another flavor!

I hope you will start eating; it obviously is better for recovery! Good luck!!

OnlyGodKnows

I love my baked sweet potatoes and  try to eat them instead of white potatoes. Sometimes for a healthy snack, I cut a sweet potato in wedges like french fries and put them on a cookie sheet mix with olive oil  then I bake at 400 until soft and crispy. Mmmmmmmmmm 

my3girls

another way to enjoy them, baked, and then put some margarine and cinnamon!! It's wonderful with the cinnamon on them!! Yum!!

Daffodil

You can get cinnamon in a grinder~~now that's delish! I grind it on everything!!

crazy4carrots

I bake a large one, slice it in half, scoop out the flesh and mash it with a little butter, grated parmesan, sea salt and black pepper, then put the filling back in the potato skins, sprinkle a little parmesan over top and stick under the broiler for a couple of minutes.  Sounds like a lot of work (but not really) and definitely worth the effort!

car

Only kind of potato on the "approved" list on the diet my onc has me on. The absolute best way to make them is: 2 parts sweet potatoes to 1 part Vidalia onion (by weight). Cut spuds into 2" chunks, onion 1" chunks. Drizzle w/olive oil, salt, freshly ground pepper and roast at 450 until done.

Daffodil

Now my mouth is watering~~~what good recipes!

How long till Vidalia  {swoon} season????

Anonymous

sweet potatoes are definitely more nutritious than regular potatoes--more fiber, more beta carotenes, and less calories too, not to mention better taste! I love them roasted with a little olive oil and kosher salt.

junie

knew I could count on you guys!!!  Thanks for the replies--I've printed them out and will try every recipe suggestion!  Can't wait to go fix dinner!!!!    hugggsssss

Anonymous

Candied sweet potatoes using splenda brown sugar is pretty darn good.  One of my favorite desserts is sweet potatoe pie. They have good carbs which is why they are allowed on low carb diets like South Beach.

Achi

GramE

Don't gag, but RAW sweet potatoes are much better than carrots - IMHO...   "peel", then cut up like carrot sticks and they keep a LONG time in the fridge.   Raw zucchini is also tasty, but leave the "peel" on.   

Anonymous

Has anyone tried to make Sweet Potato fries?

Achi

lexislove

Yes! I actually make often...for my 3 year old.

I gut big "wedge" like pieces, toss in olive oil / sea salt / oregano/ pepper.

Then lay them on a non stick baking sheet or tin foil layered, and bake usually 350,20 min (depending) on your oven. I like mine as crispy as I can get them...

Jorf

OMG, who needs a recipe with a sweet potato!? Bake. Open. Eat. Mm-mm good.

Now, the leftovers done up in a frying pan with a little bit of butter making a crispy edge - save my soul, always been one of my favorite foods. (Had that tonight made with ghee and didn't crisp up like it should - a major disappointment.)

Love the Japanese ones  - not as sweet but really tasty.

EWB

Yum, love sweet potatoes, now I have some new ideas on serving/cooking them.

desdemona222b

car -

Would you be willing to share the diet your onc has you on?  Mine didn't put me on a special diet, so it would really help me a lot if I could get some idea of what your diet is like.

Thanks. 

car

Absolutely! The book is available via Amazon.com (or if you're a cheapskate like me, try www.addall.com) for about $10 pbk. Walter Willett's Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy. If you're concerned about weight, he also has a companion, Eat, Drink, and Lose Weight.

It's soundly researched, based on the Nurse's and Professionals health studies (Willett, who's at Harvard is a PI on them). Willett is the first to admit that there is less evidence that the diet prevents cancer, but it is an incredible anti-chronic illness diet. I was already on a Mediterranean diet w/a lot of exercise, and my onc said that he insists that his sedentary pts. go on it--in my case, he said "tweaking" my diet would be fine. I feel so good on it, I've pretty much adopted it. I even joined a local organic food coop--not so much because I'm concerned about organic, but if I have a large share of prepaid veggeies in my fridge, I eat more than if I pick them out at the store.

desdemona222b

Well thanks, car!  I realize from reading all these remarks about diet that I'm slacking big time and I need to wake up!  I posted a really interesting article indicating that diet actually does make a big difference with breast cancer recurrence on the Remifen thread.  You might find it interesting.

car

Great desdemona--I'll check it out! My onc swears on diet and exercise, and he's the best.

Sierra

very good for you

I believe they were listed

in one of the top ten foods

an article recently viewed by ME..

I steam them

though they are tastier baked

or sometimes bake them as fries

with a tad of cayenne on them

or chili

)

Junie

did you get my mail??