Stuffed Baked Sweet Potato

February 17, 2010

People ask me all the time what foods we keep in our house on a regular basis. I always list oatmeal, rice, quinoa, chicken and a few other basics, but for some reason I frequently forget to mention sweet potatoes, which are hands down one of our favorites. Packed with vitamins A and C, beta carotene, iron and calcium, they are literally one of the single most nutritious vegetables you can eat.

My husband and I usually eat them for dinner several nights a week and I also make sweet potato puree for Chloe with bit of coconut milk and/or cinnamon. But one of the most fun ways to enjoy sweet potatoes is to bake them, slice them in half and then stuff ’em however you like. Kenya loves designing his own stuffed potato, which takes what could be a boring side dish and allows him to be the chef of his own meal. And it’s easy to do_ just pick a bunch of toppings, arrange them on a plate or in little bowls, and let your little one create a sweet masterpiece. I usually offer Kenya a pat of butter, some chopped nuts, maple syrup, raisins….even a bit of orange zest to add some fun flavor.

But the thing I find that kids like best about sweet potatoes is that they’re sweet. It’s like letting them have the healthiest dessert in the world for dinner! Don’t take my word for it, go stuff it!