Food profile: Sweet Potatoes (yams)

Why limit sweet potatoes to just Thanksgiving and Christmas?  This yummy and relatively cheap vegatable is loaded with nutrition that can be bought and served year round!  Sweet potatoes come in two different varieties:  moist-fleshed (orange and naturally sweet) and dry-fleshed (ivory).  Yams are loaded with beta-carotine (vitamin A) and is also a great source of magnesium, and potassium.  They are super easy to prepare.  I usually buy a bunch on sale, bake them up, scoop them up, mash them up and serve them up!  They can also be easily prepared in the microwave:  just pierce with a fork,  and heat them on high (approximately seven minutes, though times may vary slightly).  My kids (and baby) just love them!