There are 2 things that I love: nutritious foods and foods that don’t take long to prepare! One of my new favorite finds is steam-able sweet potatoes in the PRODUCE section. As a Registered Dietitian, the produce section is one of my most favorite departments in the grocery store. I am in awe of all the variety, colors, and different assortments of fresh fruits and vegetables. I love it when I find a new item in the produce section that will help make it easier for me to serve fresh produce to my family on a weeknight.
Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse vegetable. They are a good source of fiber, high in Vitamins A and C as well as rich in potassium. A sweet potato is low in calories too with only 103 calories for a medium-sized potato. For people with diabetes, a sweet potato is a great carbohydrate choice because it is a complex carbohydrate, which means that our body breaks down the sugar more slowly and does not spike blood sugar levels. Don’t forget to eat the skin too since that is where most of the fiber is found!
I have tried through the years multiple different ways to prepare sweet potatoes. I have cooked them in the oven (which for me seems to take forever and way too much time for a week-day meal). I have tried cooking them in the microwave (which tends to dry the potatoes out and make them not as moist as I like them). I have tried cooking them in the crock pot (but sometimes I don’t plan well for those nights and not enough time to prepare them at the last minute). Starting to sound like a Dr Seuss book right? Well, I finally have found the perfect solution…steamable sweet potatoes in the produce section!
All you do is put this bag in the microwave and cook for 8 minutes. The bag contains petite, fresh sweet potatoes (about 4-5 small ones per bag). They are cooked to perfection and come out soft and moist. You can top them off with a small amount of butter and cinnamon. I find that these potatoes are sweet enough and no added sugar necessary. Make sure to check these out at your next trip to the produce section. If you are like me, you will be thankful you have found a new, quick and easy way to include fresh produce during a chaotic weekday dinner. Enjoy!
