The following question was submitted by a reader, "I was recently diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes and I’m trying to follow a low fat diet. I have a question I hope that you can answer. Are sweet potatoes considered a vegetable and are they ok to eat in my diet?"Sweet potatoes are a vegetable but are classified as a "starchy vegetable" like regular potatoes or corn. Sweet potatoes contain more carbohydrate than "non starchy vegetables" therefore it is important to watch your portion size when enjoying them! 1/2 cup of sweet potato is equivalent to 15g of carbohydrate.
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and manganese. They are also a good source of vitamin B6, copper, dietary fiber, potassium, and iron! Mash or roast them, or stir-fry them with some non-starchy vegetables.
Other examples of starchy vegetables include:
* Parsnip
* Plantain
* Potato
* Pumpkin
* Acorn squash
* Butternut squash
* Green Peas
* Corn
Sweet potatoes are definitely okay to include in your diet -- just watch your portion sizes and preparation methods (watch the butter and brown sugar....). The size of your fist is a good guide for potato size!
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