Sweet on Sweet Potatoes

By Dr. Leo Galland, M.D., and Jonathan Galland

CBN.com – Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving classic, and a superfood with surprising nutritional benefits. First cultivated in the highlands of South America, sweet potatoes were recognized as a great source of nutrition and soon spread rapidly around the world.

Beneath the skin, sweet potatoes have a gorgeous orange color, which lets you know they are loaded with beneficial carotenoids. They contain fiber and vitamin A, as well as some calcium, magnesium, and potassium. And one cup of cooked sweet potatoes has 200 calories and no fat.

Naturally Sweet

There is good reason they are called sweet potatoes. They contain natural sugars, which leads us to an important point. Let the natural sweetness and flavor of sweet potatoes shine. There is no need to add brown sugar or marshmallows to sweet potatoes. You will be delighted at how sweet and delicious they are cooked and served without added sweeteners.

For a fantastic side dish that can take center stage, try these recipes that show you how to make sweet potatoes the healthy way. You can also use these recipes to make your own favorite choice of potatoes.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato ‘Fries’

Here is a new and healthy twist on “fries” roasted in the oven. This is an amazing way to roast potatoes; they get all brown and crunchy.

For these, peel the sweet potato, and then slice into little sticks or “fries”.

Coat a baking sheet with a little olive oil, and then arrange the “fries” evenly across the pan.

Season with salt and black pepper.

Spray a little olive oil over them, and then bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Baked Sweet Potatoes

The traditional way to bake sweet potatoes is also a great way to bring out the sweetness of this fall staple.

First, give the sweet potatoes a good rinse and scrubbing. Dry them, and using a fork, make holes in the skin, four or five times across the length of the top. This is to let the steam escape safely as they cook.

Place in oven and bake at 375°F until the inside gets soft, around 45 minutes or so, depending upon the size of the potato.

Remove from oven and slice lengthwise to serve.

Instead of butter, top with a drizzle of olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper. For something a little extra, sprinkle with cinnamon.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!

For delicious recipes and information about adopting a healthy lifestyle, visit www.fatresistancediet.com.

Dr. Leo Galland is a board-certified internist who received his education at Harvard University and the New York University School of Medicine. He has held faculty positions at New York University, Rockefeller University, the State University of New York, and the University of Connecticut. Interviews with Dr. Galland and articles about his work have been featured in Newsweek, Reader's Digest, Self, Bazaar, Men's Fitness, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other publications. He has written three highly acclaimed popular books, The Fat Resistance Diet, Power Healing, and Superimmunity for Kids.

Jonathan Galland is a health writer for newspapers, magazines, and major news Web sites. He is frequently interviewed as a weight loss and health expert on the radio and has appeared on Martha Stewart Living Radio. His work has been featured on the cover of Fitness, Glamour, and Women's World and in publications such as The Washington Post, Body and Soul, Self, and The Wall Street Journal. Jonathan is co-author of The Fat Resistance Diet, with his father Leo Galland, M.D. Their book has been translated and published in Italy as La Dieta Galland and in Japan as Dr. Galland’s Metabolic Diet.

This article is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice or counseling, the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, the creation of a physician-patient relationship, or an endorsement, recommendation, or sponsorship of any third party product or service by the sender or the sender's afaffiliates, agents, employees, or service providers. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.

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