Sweet Potato Toast 5 Ways

Good Wellness Wednesday Morning!

I think Wednesday has become one of my favorite days of the week – mainly because I love sharing new recipes, fitness and health tips with you, and that happens on Wednesdays. Also, it is the middle of the week, so I know I am on the downhill slope to Friday, which as a working mom I appreciate. This morning, I wanted to share an easy, favorite breakfast recipe of mine you can make several ways.

I am going to be completely honest with you, breakfast has been a struggle lately with me. I have had more Cheerios than I have ever had lately, and my go to breakfast has been Greek yogurt with frozen berries and granola on other mornings. It’s just been a default of mine, because it is easy. Then I forgot how much I love sweet potatoes, and making sweet potato toast. Mariah shared her favorite breakfasts a few weeks ago, with a few pancake recipes, which of as you all know are some of my favorite breakfasts. After long runs, pancakes were a tradition, but I go in phases with my breakfast. Lately, I am back in the sweet potato phase.

Why sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes are chuck full of vitamin A and vitamin C, which is great during this time of year. They contain antioxidants, as they contain beta carotene.  1 cup of baked sweet potato contains over 700% of your daily value of vitamin A and about 65% of your vitamin C. Sweet potatoes pack a little protein, and a lot of fiber with almost 7 grams of fiber in 1 cup, and 4 grams protein. If you dress them the right way, you can have a nice protein rich breakfast, with the perfect amount of carbohydrates for a great meal to refuel after your workouts or run. They can promote weight loss, are anti-inflammatory, and they regulate blood pressure. If you eat the skin too, you’ll gain the benefits of more potassium.

The antioxidants and fiber contribute to a healthy gut and help fight against free radical damage and cancer; sweet potatoes enhance brain function, promote healthy eye sight and support your immune system. Every runner or athlete should be consuming sweet potatoes!! Throw in smoothies, eat baked topped with peanut butter and bananas, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with a little maple syrup. Or make my favorite Sweet Potato Toast. Here’s how:

• slice sweet potatoes hot dog style, into thinner slices (like a piece of bread)
• toast in a toast, turning sides a few times or
• bake on 425 degrees for 10 minutes, until soft – lay flat on baking sheet, lined with parchment paper
• top with yogurt, banana, cinnamon and maple syrup
• top with peanut butter, banana, cinnamon & maple syrup
• top with cream cheese & jelly or yogurt & jelly
• top with fried egg
• top with yogurt, cinnamon & frozen or fresh blueberries

Other great toppings are avocado with egg, peanut butter and jelly, berries with yogurt , chia seeds with peanut butter & honey, and cinnamon with cream cheese. Honestly the options are endless, so give it a try and let us know if you do!

I slice a few sweet potatoes and bake, then I save the rest in an air tight container for a few days and top when I am ready to eat for breakfast. The sweet potato slices will last in the refrigerator for up to a week. Oh and my kids love them too!! I actually create some recipes hoping they won’t want to try or like, but they always do, which means less for me. I have learned that I will be sharing anything and everything I eat, so if I don’t want to share I have to eat in hiding; therefore, if you find me in my closet eating lunch, it’s only because I want to actually eat ALL of my lunch. It must taste better off of Mom or Dad’s plate.

So give these a try and have your kids taste test too!! Try to add as many colors as you can to the slices. Enjoy!

Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit