Sweet on Sweet Potatoes: Why They’re Amazing & Some Easy Recipes.
Hello!
I love sweet potatoes! They’re one of those rare foods that feel like comfort food (hello, sweet potato fries — yum!) and also nourish us deeply at the same time. During the winter months, they’re a grounding staple in our kitchen, and we love how incredibly versatile they are.
🌱 Here are a few reasons Sweet Potatoes truly earn their Superfood label:
Rich in fibre — supports gut health and steady energy.
Packed with beta-carotene (vitamin A) — great for skin, immune function, and eye health.
Natural source of potassium & magnesium — can help with muscle relaxation and blood pressure balance.
Lower glycemic index (when baked or roasted) — they release energy more slowly than many white starches.
Loaded with antioxidants — those deep orange and purple pigments help reduce inflammation.
Compared to regular potatoes, sweet potatoes offer more antioxidants, far more vitamin A, steadier energy, and more gut-friendly fibre — which is why they’re often considered the better everyday choice.
Another little bonus: if pesticide use is something you’re concerned about, sweet potatoes aren’t on the Dirty Dozen list—regular potatoes are. The Dirty Dozen is an annual list published by the Environmental Working Group that highlights fruits and vegetables most likely to carry higher levels of pesticide residue. It’s a helpful guide for making gentle, informed choices at the grocery store—without striving for perfection.
💜 Meet the Purple Sweet Potato!
Did you know there are purple sweet potatoes? I didn’t — until they started showing up in our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes last year! The purple part is the flesh, not the skin.
According to Dr. Dawn Mussallem, a cancer specialist and survivor at the Mayo Clinic, purple sweet potatoes are especially powerful because they’re rich in anthocyanins—a type of flavonoid, which belongs to a larger family of plant compounds called polyphenols. These are the same antioxidant pigments that give blueberries their deep blue-purple colour.
Anthocyanins support:
🧠 Brain health — helping protect brain cells from oxidative stress.
❤️ Heart health — supporting healthy blood vessels and cholesterol balance.
🛡️ Cancer-protective pathways — helping cells repair damage and reducing inflammation.
🍽 Easy, delicious ways to eat more Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet potatoes are endlessly versatile. You can roast them, mash them, stuff them, or slice them into fries. I usually roast a big batch once a week and add them to:
soups and stews
salads and buddha bowls
breakfast scrambles
or simply enjoy them as a side dish
Some of my favourite sweet potato recipes are from the Minimalist Baker — especially the brownies 😋. These recipes have simple ingredients, big flavour, and consistently delicious results.
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