When it comes to Thanksgiving, there’s one great debate: whether to serve pumpkin or sweet potato. Both can be made in healthy side dishes or tasty desserts, so which should you choose? Surprisingly, your choice may come down to mind–body well-being and what you or your Thanksgiving family most need this holiday season.
Sweet Potato Benefits
Ayurveda considers sweet potatoes to be a rasayana, a food with life-giving essence, and it’s no wonder why. It’s sweet with nearly nine times as much sugar as pumpkin and five times as many calories per cup. When prepared with additional sugars (like brown sugar) it becomes even sweeter to taste and more filling, making it the perfect holiday comfort food. It’s also packed with potassium, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, and fiber to aid in digestion.While I don’t recommend adding additional sugar to your sweet potato (you’re sweet enough already), it’s a great choice for your elderly or ill relatives that need that extra calorie punch per serving. Being a rasayana, sweet potato has more than just physical health benefits. It can also uplift your mood, help you feel sated more quickly than other foods, and feel emotionally comforted, which is something we all need a healthy dose of from time to time. Want to add more health and mood-boosting benefits to the mix? Try serving your sweet potato dish with ghee instead of butter.
