My new snack

Since I've eliminated gluten (the protein found in wheat and many other grain products) from my diet, I've been struggling with finding enjoyable sources of starchy carbohydrate. Gluten-free bread and pasta just doesn't do it for me. So a couple weeks ago, as I started ramping up my running mileage, I started being a little creative with snacks of oats, rice, and potatoes. I quickly found a new favorite food: The incredible edible sweet potato!

A microwaved sweet potato has become my new pre-workout snack. It is a nice slow digesting carbohydrate and settles well in my stomach about an hour before working out. Plus, it's natural flavor is so delicious, all it needs is a little pepper (as opposed to my tasteless rice bread that needed at least 2 Tbsp. peanut butter and jelly to taste good). I think my coworkers think I'm a little weird walking through the hall with my sweet potato every afternoon, but I can handle the sideways glances :-) I am confident in my perfect little snack!

The sweet potato was recently ranked the #1 most nutritious vegetable by the Center for Science in the Public Interest:

"According to nutritionists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the single most important dietary change for most people, including children, would be to replace fatty foods with foods rich in complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes. CSPI ranked the sweet potato number one in nutrition of all vegetables." Source: http://www.foodreference.com/html/sweet-pot-nutrition.html

So, how did the sweet potato get to be #1?

1. It has cholesterol lowering and fullness-promoting properties with it's high fiber content,
2. It is a powerful cancer fighter, packing over 3X the daily recommended intake of beta carotene
3. It is very low on the glycemic index scale, which promotes a slow rise in blood sugar rather than the "sugar spikes" and "sugar lows" caused by white bread and pasta and sugary cereals.
   

Sweet Potato Nutrition Facts(for one medium size sweet potato)
Calories 130
Fat 0.39 g
Protein 2.15 g
Net Carbs 31.56 g
Dietary Fiber 3.9 g
Calcium 28.6 mg
Sodium 16.9 mg
Potassium 265.2 mg
Folate 18.2 mcg
Vitamin C 29.51 mg
Vitamin A 26081.9 IU
Source: US Department of Agriculture

Next time you are at the grocery store, stock up on sweet potatoes! Try them as your starch instead of bread or pasta at lunch or dinner, or just eat one as an afternoon snack. At most grocery stores, you can find ready-to-microwave sweet potatoes in the produce aisle. They are prewashed and wrapped in plastic. You just microwave them for 5 minutes and you have a delicious, warm, and healthy snack!