Why Kids Should Eat Sweet Potatoes Everyday
Sweet potato is an underground tuber. It grows on the roots of a plant known scientifically as Ipomoea batatas. It is also rich in an antioxidant called beta-carotene, which is very effective at raising blood levels of vitamin A, particularly in children.
Sweet potatoes are nutritious, high in fiber, very filling and have a delicious sweet taste. They can be consumed in a variety of ways, but are most commonly boiled, baked, steamed or fried.
Sweet potatoes are most commonly orange, but are also found in other colors, such as white, red, pink, violet, yellow and purple.
In some parts of the USA and Canada, sweet potatoes are called yams. This is a misnomer since yams are actually a totally different species.
Sweet potatoes are only distantly related to regular potatoes. A raw sweet potato contains water (77%), carbohydrate (20.1%), protein (1.6%), fiber (3%) and almost no fat.Fiber
Cooked sweet potatoes are relatively high in fiber, with a medium-sized sweet potato containing 3.8 grams.
The fibers are both soluble (15-23%) in the form of pectin, and insoluble (77-85%) in the form of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
Potatoes contains the following types of Vitamins.
Vitamin A: Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, which is transformed into vitamin A in the body. The recommended daily amount of vitamin A can be achieved with only 100 grams of sweet potatoes.
Vitamin C: An antioxidant, which may decrease the duration of common colds and improve skin health.
Potassium: Important for blood pressure control, this mineral may decrease the risk of heart disease.
Manganese: A trace mineral that is important for growth, development and metabolism.
Vitamin B6: Plays an important role in the conversion of food into energy.
Vitamin B5: Also known as pantothenic acid, this vitamin is found to some extent in nearly all foods.
Vitamin E: A powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that may help protect the body against oxidative damage.
So, every morning, when cooking that meal for your child, try and include the some few sweet potatoes. They will not only add to the lovely taste of the meal, but it will also add to a lovely flavour of the meal your kid is about to enjoy.