sweet potatoes vs regular potatoes

jellybaby84 · October 2011

I know that sweet potatoes are better for you but can anyone explain why to me please? I've looked at the nutritional info for both on MFP and they seem almost identical, certainly in terms of calories, carbs and fat!

I have a baked potato nearly every night for dinner but don't have time to cook it from scratch so bulk cook a load once or twice a week and just reheat them as needed (no microwave). I tried to do this with sweet potatoes but didn't realise that they don't reheat well - just a kind of greyish slime inside when I tried it!

So, any opinions? Are regular potatoes okay for you? Are sweet potatoes really so much better?

AZKristi · October 2011

http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/food_myths/Sweet_Potatoes_are_Better.php

patiencez2 · October 2011

Sweet potatoes are a slow burning carb. White potatoes are a fast burning carb. so sweet potatoes stay with you longer.

kiwi1855 · October 2011

The carbohydrates in a sweet potato are more complex carbohydrates. It takes more effort for your body to break these down, and your blood sugar doesn't spike as much as with a regular potato. If you have a risk of diabetes/have diabetes, sweet potatoes are better for you, as they don't break down into sugar as rapidly as the simple carbohydrates in regular potatoes.

If you are going to stick with regular potatoes, try to stick with yellow or russet potatoes. From what I've heard, those are less sweet (less simple carbohydrates) than the red skinned potatoes.

amysj303 · October 2011

I have heard that it is a myth, that sweet potatos are better, but the Jamie Eason Live Fit 12 week Trainer seems to imply they are a better choice, although it doesn't say why...

Puffins1958 · October 2011

When I had gone to my nutritionalist, she told me to have sweet potatoes with cinnamom, she said that they were so much healthier than regular "white" potatoes. I also heard that anything white is not as healthy, ie....bread, flour.
Just my opinion, I hope this helps you.

Athena413 · October 2011

As far as re-heating...try cubing sweet potatoes and steaming them instead. I LOVE steamed sweet potatoes and will make enough for my lunches on Sunday and they seem to re-heat just fine all week long.

MissMollieK · October 2011

take a sw. potato, wrap in saran wrap and stick in microwave about 6 or so minutes raw. It will come out perfect depending on size of the potato. I do this almost everytime and love it:)

MikeInAZ · October 2011

Sweet have a lot more fiber in them. They don't convert to sugar as fast. They are less calories.

easfahl · October 2011

Think I'll have to try both the cubed steamed version and the plain wrapped in saran version. Love how easy they are!

neanderthin · October 2011

Regular potatoes are fine. Sweet potato has more fiber and obviously more beta-carotene but they're both close. Don't sweat it.

Cathleenr · October 2011

yams and sw's are so yummy and versatile. with cinnamon and a few grains of salt...MMMMM. i bake all of mine at once then put in a ziploc bag in the freezer..they reheat wonderfully. mixed with albacore and mrs dash....mmmmmmmmm.
they are a superb source of carotene and are indeed a complex carb.

jellybaby84 · October 2011

Will definitely try the steaming idea, thanks

I love my steamer, couldn't do without it for meat.

Sadly, have no microwave so can't try the wrap one.

MikeIz, they aren't fewer calories I don't think - MFP puts them at almost eactly the same.

Thanks for the link at the top

3dogsrunning · October 2011

yams and sw's are so yummy and versatile. with cinnamon and a few grains of salt...MMMMM. i bake all of mine at once then put in a ziploc bag in the freezer..they reheat wonderfully. mixed with albacore and mrs dash....mmmmmmmmm.
they are a superb source of carotene and are indeed a complex carb.

This, and not to threadjack but Cathleenr - your dog is gorgeous.

Shelby814 · October 2011

Sweet potato fries are one of my new most favorite things. Cutting the raw potato is a challenge because they're so hard, but making them is easy. Spray a cookie sheet with butter flavored Pam. Spread the wedges/fries out & spray them on top with the Pam. Bake them at 350 degrees or so until done (approx 20 min). They'd probably get done quicker at a higher temp, but I usually put them in the oven with whatever else I'm cooking. Sprinkle with cinnamon (6 calories/tsp). Fabulous!

jjbraid · October 2011

I always thought of sweet potatoes as that mushy mess that looks like baby food. Recently my sister introduced me to a way to eat them that even got my mother (who never eats any vegetables) eating them and asking for more. I slice them up, put on baking sheet, sprinkle with cajan seasoning and cook on each side for 13 min at a 450 oven. There are never any left over.