Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and around this time each year we do a roundup of our favorite recipes for the big day (which you can find here, here, and here), but while we finalize our menus, we’re feeling inspired to take a closer look at the items hitting our holiday table. Earlier this year we did a blog post that highlighted the benefits of cranberries, so this week we wanted to take a look at the versatile and beneficial sweet potato, exploring its nutritional benefits and share our top five sweet potato + honey recipes.
Fun Fact: while commonly identified by their orange hue, sweet potatoes actually come in a variety of sizes and colors, including white, orange, and purple, and according to HealthLine.com, these colors are more than just eye-catching. In fact, orange sweet potatoes get their familiar color from their high amount of beta-carotene, while their purple counterpart are rich in anthocyanins, both of which are “antioxidants that may help prevent vision loss and improve eye health.” In addition to these antioxidants, all varieties of sweet potato are also sources of fiber, which contribute to a healthy gut. And because beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A, which is critical for a healthy immune system, consumption of sweet potatoes can contribute to your whole body health.
Now that you know some of the many health benefits of sweet potatoes, you may be asking, “How do I work more sweet potatoes into my diet?” Well we’ve got some tasty ideas for that too! Similar to honey, sweet potatoes can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including baked (and loaded with all the sweet stuff!), fried, boiled, and even mashed, and sweet potatoes fries and chips are on the rise in popularity too. Whether you walk on the side of sweet or savory, our top five honey-inspired sweet potato recipes offer something for everyone.
But we want to hear from you! What’s your favorite sweet potato recipe? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
