According to Wikipedia, yams are...
a versatile vegetable that can be roasted, barbecued, grilled, fried, boiled and smoked.
Before we go ' piging out' on yams saying after all they are a vegetable let us be aware that the carbohydrates content is high.
Yams have a sizeable amount of vitamin A, potassium and beta carotene.....yet.....there is a better and cheaper alternative.......
Nature has blessed us with Sweet potatoes.....( if you have a sweet tooth satisfy it with this).
- Sweet potatoes are a root vegetable that are relatively lower in calories than yams and have no fat.
I am talking vitamin A content being like x102 that of yam per 100 grams....having 5 times the recommended daily allowance.
......And beta carotene is also x102 that of yam per 100 grams......
Let us now `judge the matter` which one is better for the purpose of healthy eating?
Everyone finds it difficult to binge eat sweet potatoes......chances are that you will get tired of them.....they are just too sweet......
I hope with this few points of mine (in the voice of a secondary school debater ), I have been able to convince and not confuse you that sweet potatoes are "yummier" and more nutritious than west African yams. #wink#
Remember I don't claim to be an expert I am just an obese mom seeking to improve her health and is therefore seeking information on healthy food choices.
Blog visitors over to you....which do prefer....in taste?
Please....West African yam, any day. The secret is moderation baby and combining the meal with more of other nutritional items like vegetable (remember garden egg or eggplant).
ReplyDeleteLol.....Garden egg stew right? Hmmnnnn yummy......
ReplyDeleteYou are very right on the moderation part.
ReplyDeleteThis yam matter. I only like sweet potato when it is included in other meals like yam. Abeg, yam is one of my favourite meals and it would be very difficult to get this out of my diet. My question on the moderation is how often can peeps with weight tendencies like me eat yam in a month? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHa! I'm married to a man who LOVES yam,in any form except pounded. Abstinence from yam will almost be impossible as food choices are low in Naija. Bt I guess I can work on moderation. Thanks for the info,sis
ReplyDeleteYou can have yam in moderation. You can incorporate sweet potatoes to your diet and develop a taste for it.......It is healthier......Use the food portion guide as a guide to your serving portion.
ReplyDelete@ Emmanuella , I do not quite agree food choices are low in 9ja as we continue talking about choices we will discover together how best to have variety.
ReplyDelete