Sweet Potato vs 'Normal' Potato
gongol07
Posts: 18 Member
Having looked at various diets and eating plans over the years, there seems to be a lot of use of sweet potato rather than the 'normal' white potato. I have looked them up on the database here and the nutrition info looks to be about the same. Just wondering, what is the big deal with the sweet potato?
P.S: I know, there is no such thing as 'normal'!
P.S: I know, there is no such thing as 'normal'!
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(This post belongs in food & nutrition forum)
First of all, they are two very different vegetables.
They are both called potatoes, but have different families. Potatoes are in the solanaceae family, and sweet potatoes in the convolvulaceae family. Sweet potato are very rich in beta caroten, vitamin c and fiber which there is not that much of in regular potato. It tastes very sweet and is easy to like. I think it reminds of carrot in the flavour.
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sweet potatoes taste ick
HTH
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There's been a crusade going on for at least a decade against the spud....... where have you been, cleaning the castle?0
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There some interesting information here: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/regular-vs-sweet-potatoes
The main differences are vitamin A content (in orange sweet potatoes) and glycaemic index.0 -
I love them both, but you can only make pie with the sweet potato.
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Regular potatoes don't taste good with maple syrup.0
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Laurend224 wrote: »I love them both, but you can only make pie with the sweet potato.
Out of interest as an ignorant Brit, is sweet potato pie a dessert, like pumpkin pie? If so, I must add it to my 'to bake' list.
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KarenJanine wrote: »Laurend224 wrote: »I love them both, but you can only make pie with the sweet potato.
Out of interest as an ignorant Brit, is sweet potato pie a dessert, like pumpkin pie? If so, I must add it to my 'to bake' list.
Yup, it's pretty much just like pumpkin pie.
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White potatoes were demonized several years ago. I think a lot of people were just told white foods and starchy foods are bad and didn't look up nutritional information personally. Sweet potatoes were supposedly okay so they became more popular. Some people prefer sweet potatoes anyway.
I feel both can be part of a healthy diet.0 -
Is anyone else here weird like me and sometimes craves a baked potato just for the skin?0
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Sweet potatoes are to sweet for me, I really don't like it... same goes for parsnips. Carrots are just about as sweet as I go vegetable wise.mamapeach910 wrote: »Is anyone else here weird like me and sometimes craves a baked potato just for the skin?
Yes, yes I do
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Is anyone else here weird like me and sometimes craves a baked potato just for the skin?
Yes, especially since I've discovered salt crusted baked potatoes.
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Laurend224 wrote: »mamapeach910 wrote: »Is anyone else here weird like me and sometimes craves a baked potato just for the skin?
Yes, especially since I've discovered salt crusted baked potatoes.
What is this sorcery? It sounds like something that needs to be in my life.
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The only difference is that their vitamin and mineral content is slightly different. Sweet potatoes have more vitamin A, regular ones have more potassium. Sweet potatoes are also slightly higher in calories. Other than that, sweet potatoes are too sweet to be edible, but that's just personal preference.0
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God I really want a jacket potato now
but I have packed vietnamese noodles for lunch0 -
The biggest difference between the 2 is Vitamin A content with sweet potato you get lots with 'normal' you get little if any. Sweet potato also has twice the Vitamin C content, and twice the manganese content. You also get a broader spectrum of B Vitamins from sweet potato than normal. Hope that helps a little 0
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Personally the biggest difference is that I hate the taste of sweet potato. I try them every now and then as I feel I should like them, but they end up in the dog's bowl.
Where as I love white potato. Roast, mashed, baked, saute, wedges with seas salt, olive oil and rosemary. Chips with salt and oodles of vinegar & tomato sauce eaten out of paper by the seaside. Best of all, Bombay Potatoes. All crispy & spicy.
Probably very few healthy serving suggestions there!!0 -
They are totally different foods, as mentioned above. Both are great, IMO, and I eat both. I think what you are noticing is mostly the bizarre anti-potato sentiment from some, and thus the desire to replace it in all things by the sweet potato, but I say eat both, just alternate and choose which one goes best with whatever else you are eating.
My preference for both is roasting.0 -
As an Irish person raised on spuds I find it hard to eat white spuds without milk and butter the way my dad has made them since I was knee high to a grasshopper. So for nutritional value, balance and an attempt at everything in moderation I will switch between the two. I find sweet potatoes a little too sweet so I cut them into wedges drizzle a little olive oil and then sprinkle chilli powder or cajun spices on top and bake in the oven 20 minutes quite delish and less calories.
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I eat sweet potatoes half a dozen times a year and my potatoes don't like that one little bit.Victoriamrs wrote: »As an Irish person raised on spuds I find it hard to eat white spuds without milk and butter the way my dad has made them since I was knee high to a grasshopper. So for nutritional value, balance and an attempt at everything in moderation I will switch between the two. I find sweet potatoes a little too sweet so I cut them into wedges drizzle a little olive oil and then sprinkle chilli powder or cajun spices on top and bake in the oven 20 minutes quite delish and less calories.
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Laurend224 wrote: »
I bet you could cut the oil and they would still be fabulous. I will be making them. I have low blood sodium and love salty things. Thank you!
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The sweet potato is lower on the glycemic index than the white potato, meaning it doesn't spike your insulin as much. Eating foods that spike your insulin can cause cravings, and a quicker return of hunger after you eat. they also have different vitamins although both are very nutritious. To cut down on fat, I top my white potato with salsa, or (low sugar) ketchup, or turkey chili, or just eat it plain. If I have a craving for butter and sour cream on my white potato, I use ButterBuds and fat free Greek yogurt instead, to save a lot of calories. I eat sweet potatoes plain.0
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No sweet potato isn't lower on the "GI" Not to mention that the potato is the most satiating food source on the planet.Eatwell140 wrote: »The sweet potato is lower on the glycemic index than the white potato, meaning it doesn't spike your insulin as much. Eating foods that spike your insulin can cause cravings, and a quicker return of hunger after you eat. they also have different vitamins although both are very nutritious. To cut down on fat, I top my white potato with salsa, or (low sugar) ketchup, or turkey chili, or just eat it plain. If I have a craving for butter and sour cream on my white potato, I use ButterBuds and fat free Greek yogurt instead, to save a lot of calories. I eat sweet potatoes plain.
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They're both totally fine. I like both, I actually had potatoes for breakfast (and last night).0
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I truly hate the taste of sweet potatoes. Russets are my best friends, though.0
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mamapeach910 wrote: »Laurend224 wrote: »
I bet you could cut the oil and they would still be fabulous. I will be making them. I have low blood sodium and love salty things. Thank you!
spray oil *nods* to self
What on earth is a butter bud?0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »Is anyone else here weird like me and sometimes craves a baked potato just for the skin?
This!0 -
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