Spicy Sweet Potato and Lentils | Slimming Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Are lentils and sweet potatoes good for you? ›

Lentils and sweet potatoes, when combined, provide a complementary amino acid profile that can contribute to a more complete protein intake. While lentils are considered a good source of plant-based protein, they are not considered a complete protein on their own as they lack some essential amino acids.

The skin is nutritious and an excellent source of fiber. You can slice and bake them. You can microwave them for 8 to 10 minutes, turning them over halfway through. Or you can cut the potatoes into 1-inch pieces and allow them to sit in a rolling boil for 15 to 20 minutes.

White sweet potatoes are related to the orange sweet potato, but with some noticeable differences — mostly in texture and taste. Orange sweet potatoes have more moisture, are orange-fleshed, and very sweet. White sweet potatoes are dryer, white-fleshed, mild in flavor, and slightly nutty.

Mealtime: Sweet potatoes can be enjoyed at any mealtime. They make a great addition to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can have them roasted, mashed, baked, or added to various dishes like soups, stews, and salads. Pre- or post-workout: Sweet potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy.

Lentils are rich in fibre, folate and potassium making them a great choice for the heart and for managing blood pressure and cholesterol. They are also a source of energising iron and vitamin B1 which helps maintain a steady heartbeat.

Alternatively, a full complement of amino acids can be achieved by pairing lentils with whole grains such as rice or wheat. Lentils are also a great source of fiber, vitamin B1 and folic acid, and are naturally gluten-free.

As we know, sweet potato has several benefits that make it worth including in your weight loss diet. So, by incorporating it into healthy meals and watching your portion sizes, you may find that it does support your weight loss goals and results in getting rid of unwanted belly fat.

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you can absolutely enjoy them daily. However, eating multiple sweet potatoes every day could cause a harmless condition called carotenodermia, where your skin turns yellow-orange. You may also want to be cautious about your sweet potato intake if you have a history of kidney stones.

Sweet potato has 60.6 times less saturated fat than oatmeal. Sweet potato is an excellent source of Vitamin A. Oatmeal is a great source of calcium, and it is an excellent source of iron and protein. Both sweet potatoes and oatmeal are high in dietary fiber and potassium.

Sweet Potatoes and Health

Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.

What is a yam vs sweet potato? ›

Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

Up to 80% of sweet potato is carbs, which include resistant starches, fiber, and sugars like fructose and glucose ( 6 ). Fructose is one of the FODMAPs that triggers stomach discomfort in people with IBS — but only when the food eaten has higher levels of fructose than glucose ( 5 , 8 ).

You can grill, smash, bake, mash and even air-fry them. Along with those cooking methods, one of the healthiest ways to cook sweet potatoes is to roast them. The best technique for roasting vegetables is to roast them at higher temperatures so that the natural sugars caramelize.

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Eating more lentils may help people maintain a healthy weight or lose weight. Replacing energy-dense (or high calorie) foods with legumes such as lentils can help people prevent or manage obesity and lose weight. Research suggests that regularly eating lentils may help with the management and prevention of diabetes.

Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They're also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber.

Lentils can also help reduce blood sugar. In a study that included 48 healthy adults, replacing half of the carbs from rice or potatoes with carbs from cooked lentils at a meal led to significant decreases in post-meal blood sugars compared with eating rice or potatoes alone (12).

Urad dal or black lentil is one of the most nutritious pulses known to mankind. Low in fat and calories, Urad dal helps to improve digestion. With it being a rich source of protein and vitamin B3, it makes our bones stronger and is said to boost energy levels, enhance heart health and strengthen our nervous system.