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Lucy’s Favorite Sweet Potato Pancake

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on November 23, 2013

Written by Jennifer Martin, Dietetic Student at University of Illinois at Chicago

If you haven’t jumped on the sweet potato bandwagon yet, consider it. Its reputation is increasing in popularity thanks to many restaurants adding sweet potato fries to their menu, but like regular potatoes, there are so many fun ways to eat them. For instance, you can make you own baked sweet potato fries at home with just olive oil and your own choice of spices. It’s incredibly easy, and it’s a much healthier alternative than deep fried fries. We also have a link to a recipe below for sweet potato pancakes!

White vs. Sweet

Plain ol’ white potatoes are actually packed with great nutrients, but sweet potatoes win as the healthy star here. In comparison to white potatoes, sweet potatoes are higher in fiber, vitamin A (14 international units vs. 22,000!), vitamin C, calcium, and manganese. It’s also lower in carbs and calories.

Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams

Fun fact: Sweet potatoes and yams are NOT the same vegetable. In fact, yams that you see at the grocery store may actually be sweet potatoes that are misleadingly labeled. True yams belong to a different family than the sweet potato and are rarely cultivated in the United States. They grow and are popular in tropical climates around the world. They may actually be a challenge to find in the U.S. and Canada unless you go to an international food shop. The color of a yam can be white, yellow, purple, or pink. They can also get as big as 7.5 feet long and weigh as much as 120 pounds! Wow! In comparison to sweet potatoes, they are higher in vitamin C, fiber and potassium, and lower in vitamin A.

Lucy’s New Favorite Pancake

Lucy’s mom Justine makes this sweet potato pancake for Lucy. The recipe says to boil, but Justine likes to roast them instead to bring out the flavors. The choice is up to you!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/louisiana-sweet-potato-pancakes/

Sources: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442451329&terms=sweet%20potatoes

http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/03/white-potatoes-vs-sweet-potatoes-which-is-healthier/