Sweet Potato Wedges

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutrition packed vegetables on the planet. If you ever have the option to replace white potatoes in your meal with sweet potatoes - just go for it! They are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, the minerals iron and magnesium, the electrolyte potassium, the vitamins A, B6, C, and D.

Consuming this root vegetable will benefit your health by reducing inflammation in your body; improving digestion and eliminating free radicals in your digestive tract. They will keep your heart healthy and protect you from degenerative diseases. They also help with strengthening your eye sight, bone health and tooth formation. Red and white blood cells form in turn accelerating wound healing. It also helps you fight colds and viruses; and produces collagen that helps maintain your skin's youthful elasticity. 

Sweet potatoes help with building immune which is probably why they are a natural resource in the winter time. They support the health of your thyroid glands, improve energy levels and promote healthy kidney functioning. Yes! So many benefits packed into one vegetable! I have a theory, the more we understand what is in our foods and what they can do for us, the easier it becomes to make better choices or at the very least create a positive shift in healthy consumption.

We are conditioned to pay attention to things that are not only tangible, but visible to the human eye. Simply put, if we don't see it we don't pay attention to it. Since we can't see our brain, we don't give it the right amount of attention it needs to function optimally. After all, it is the main organ in our body that runs the show.

Did you know that sweet potatoes can help you build resistance to stress? It is also a great source of vitamin D that becomes your defense against Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - you know, the blues you get when it is gray outside, especially in winter or in cities where the sun does not shine as much. There is a reason why this root vegetable is a winter vegetable! In additon to its amazing dessert like taste, it doesn't spike our blood sugar levels - you know, the nasty stuff linked to weight gain and fatigue. If you have diabetes and love potatoes this is a good substitute for your white potatoes as they release their natural sugars slowly into the bloodstream. 

For this recipe:
2 sweet potatoes
5 garlic cloves (unpeeled)
Pinch of garlic powder
1 heaped teaspoon of thyme (dried)
Freshly cracked sea salt
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
​Freshly cracked pepper

#1 Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
#2 Wash the sweet potatoes. Cut them lengthwise down the middle (leave the skin on). Then cut each half into long wedge-like pieces.
#3 Place into a bowl that is large enough to toss your vegetables together. Add cracked sea salt, garlic powder, thyme, cracked pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. Toss well. 
#4 Place sweet potato mixture into a grill pan. Add the unpeeled garlic cloves. 
#5 Bake for 20-25 minutes.