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!

Vitamin C Reference

It seems during this time a year (Cold/Flu Season) we are all a little more conscience of trying to squeeze vitamin C into our bodies in hopes of preventing or lessening the effects of any sickness.  Here's a quick list of produce items containing vitamin C.  These are by no means the only foods containing vitamin C--but just a quick and hopefully attainable one for you.   Vitamin C is a 'water soluable' vitamin, meaning it needs to be replenished in our body each day!  The body does NOT store it!  Try to get one of these in a day!

Orange

Orange Juice

Other citrus fruit/juice

Kiwi fruit

Papaya

Tomatoes

Cantaloupe

Strawberries

Brussels Sprouts

Broccoli

Sweet Green Peppers

Bell Peppers