Sweet potatoes are usually the size of regular white potatoes. They are long and tapered. Sweet potatoes have smooth, Sweet Potato thin skins which can be eaten. Sweet potatoes are vegetables which grow in the ground as tuberous roots (fleshy, side roots). potatoes originated in th Sweet e tropica roduced sw l Am er Columbus int eet potatoes erica hristoph to Euro s at lea C China is now the worl pe, an st 5,000 d’s larges d later years ago. t grow explore er of rs introduced to Asia. sweet p them In the United States, sweet potatoes are commonly otatoes. called yams. True yams are usually grown in Africa and Asia — they have a pinkish white center and can grow up to 6 feet long and 100 pounds! NUtritiON Facts The sweet potato has only a very distant • Fat free relationship with the potato, but • High in vitamin C because both vegetables grow in the ground, they are often • High in vitamin A confused. • Good source of calcium and potassium VARIETIES • Excellent source of There are two fiber varieties of sweet potatoes • Pale yellow — with a dry, yellow flesh Uses Sweet potatoes • Dark orange — with a moist flesh. The dark can be eaten raw, but are orange is plumper in usually cooked (boiled, baked shape and somewhat sweeter microwaved, mashed or fried). than the pale yellow variety. Add to stir-fries, soups and casseroles. Sweet potatoes are popular at Thanksgiving and Some sweet potatoes are grown in Iowa. Christmas meals. Funded in part by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in cooperation with the Iowa departments of Public Health and Human Services, equal opportunity providers and employers. The Iowa Food Assistance Program can help you buy nutritious IDPH food for a healthy diet. To find out more, visit www.yesfood.iowa.gov. Iowa Department of Public Health This material was developed by the University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County. .