If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to lose weight, there are a number of foods you can incorporate into your diet that can help you accomplish your goals. Eating more fruits and vegetables can help you shed extra pounds and boost your energy, and one of the vegetables you can start eating more of is sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes are high in iron, which help to purify the blood and provide your body with more energy to make workouts easier and more efficient. They are also a significant source of magnesium, a mineral that strengthens the bones and calms the nervous system. Sweet potatoes are also higher in fiber than other types of potatoes, which means they give you a feeling of fullness for a longer period of time. This can help you manage your cravings for sugar or fat and keep you from taking in excess calories.
Here are 12 delicious sweet potato recipes for weight loss:
1. Orange Sweet Potato Pancakes
These pancakes have 249 calories and less than three grams of fat. They are also cholesterol free and have 50.6 grams of carbohydrates, so you’ll get energy without feeling sluggish after meals. These tasty pancakes are made with whole wheat flour and sweet potatoes, as well as orange juice and applesauce for defined flavor and sweetness you don’t have to fill guilty about. You can also round out the meal with a bowl of fresh fruit.
2. Overnight Oats
The overnight oats trend is becoming pretty popular, and you can add sweet potato for weight loss to make your morning meal healthier. These oats have over 8 grams of fiber and more than 11 grams of protein. The breakfast also has a low glycemic index, so it won’t make your blood sugar spike after eating. The oats also have chia seeds for added fiber, maple syrup for a healthy sweetener, pecans for omega 3s and nutmeg to further balance your blood sugar.
3. Apple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Waffles
These delicious waffles are low in fat and cholesterol and only have 22 grams of carbs and 56 mg of sodium. To make these “waffles,” you’ll need to put the sweet potatoes through a spiralizer to make them look like noodles. Combine the spiraled sweet potatoes with eggs, apples and cinnamon and put them in the waffle iron for a tasty breakfast that is grain-free.
4. Grilled Fries
This healthy alternative to traditional French fries is high in fiber, low in sugar and has only 255 calories per serving. Grilling the sweet potatoes gives them a smoky taste, and you can dip them in ketchup and enjoy them with your favorite turkey or veggie burger for a low-fat meal.
5. Quinoa Salad
At just over 500 calories, over 10 grams of fiber and 22 grams of fat, you can enjoy this tasty salad with no guilt. You prepare this salad in a mason jar for easy cleanup and to make it easy to eat on-the-go. Spinach serves as the greens for the salad, and roasting the sweet potatoes with coconut oil gives it a light, nutty flavor.
6. Masala Khicdi
This sweet potato dish is great if you’re a fan of Indian food, and it only has 2g of fat. The meal also has 12 grams of protein and 9 grams of sugar. Vegetable oil is used instead of ghee, and you can make everything in one pot. The sweet potatoes are seasoned with cayenne, turmeric and ginger, and peas, eggplant and lentils are added to make the dish complete.
7. Carbonara
This delicious pasta substitute has more than 15 grams of protein and only 213 calories. Spiralize the sweet potatoes to make pasta and top with bacon. You can also use Sriracha in the dish for a spicy kick that will boost your metabolism.
8. Sweet Potato Black Bean Quinoa Bowls
These filling bowls are a great choice for lunch or dinner and have almost 15 grams of fiber and over 23 grams of protein. This is a tasty deviation from tortilla bowls, and the sweet potatoes make this especially protein-rich.
9. Egg-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
If you’re looking for something different for breakfast, this high-fiber, high-protein breakfast contains 15.3 grams of fat and is a delicious choice. The eggs for the dish are poached and served as a sauce for the top of the sweet potatoes. If you don’t care for the spiciness of arugula for this dish, substitute with kale or spinach.
10. Nachos
This low-carb approach to nachos has 10.3 grams of fat, 8.3 grams of fiber and over 13 grams of protein. Adding ingredients like cheese and black beans makes the meal more filling, and the sweet potatoes make a nice substitute for tortilla chips.
11. Sweet Potato, Corn and Kale Chowder
This warm meal is less than 500 calories and has 12.5 grams of fiber. You’ll also be getting over 10 grams of protein in each serving of this delicious soup. The corn makes for a creamy chowder, and the sweet potatoes, leeks and kale add a savory addition to this satisfying soup.
12. Enchiladas
When you want a Mexican meal, this high-fiber meal is a healthy choice. The enchiladas also have 20 grams of protein and only 518 calories. This dish is free of meat and cheese for a tasty vegan meal, and flavors like lime and cilantro help to give the enchiladas an authentic Mexican flavor.
As you can see, there are lots of ways you can make sweet potatoes delicious for any meal of the day. Consuming these meals often can also help you reach your health and weight loss goals.