Sweet Potatoes and CHOCOLATE!!!

Whaaaaat!!!!??? I know what you are thinking, I must be insane and there is no way that is healthy. But I swear it is delish. It is a pretty healthy dish as well.

Sweet potatoes are a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6, and Potassium. They are a very good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Manganese, and Beta-carotene. The high levels of Vitamin A and Beta-carotene make them a superfood for your skin. Some skin care ingredients like retinol are actually derived from Vitamin A and Beta-carotene combats free radicals (organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases). Plus they are low in Sodium and very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. Best of all they have a low glycemic index which means they are popular among diabetics and those who need to monitor their blood sugar levels. Sweet potatoes have a glycemic load of only 17 compared to a white potato, which has an index of 29. Oh, and by the way, a medium size sweet potato has just over 100 calories.

So what about the chocolate? It can’t be healthy, right? Well if you where melting a Hershey’s bar over your baked sweet potato then I will have to go with no, it can’t be healthy. But I'm talking about organic unsweetened cocoa powder. It’s gives you just enough chocolate flavor without all the sugar and fat. Cocoa powder is a great antioxidant that protects the body from cellular damage that free radicals cause.

In this recipe I also add cinnamon, which is a wonderful spice all in itself. Cinnamon can help regulate blood sugar levels and can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Cinnamon is a natural food preservative because it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage when added to foods. Cinnamon is not just for baking cookies and apple pies. It can work in many sweet and savory dishes.

Well here is the recipe for my baked sweet potato and chocolate.

I apologize in advance to those of you who have to have exact measurements for ingredients but I kind of came up with this on my own and it was all by taste. But don’t be deterred, play around with it and make it your own. Start with a little seasoning and after tasting it, if you feel like it needs more, add it.

I first pre heat my oven at 400 degrees. I take a baking sheet and line it with foil (great for the clean up). Bake the sweet potato until tender, about 45mins or so.  I slit open the potato and top with a little Earth Balance Soy Free natural buttery spread, or drizzle on a little EVOO.  I sprinkle a little bit of organic cocoa powder, cinnamon and a dash of salt. I sometimes go crazy with it and add just a little cayenne pepper too. The little touch of heat plays nicely with the sweetness of the potato.  And it’s as simple as that. 

If you enjoy this recipe please comment. Plus add any changes you have made to make it your own. I am always open to new ways of eating sweet potatoes!