Time for a tater, sweet style! The first Monday in April is known as Sweet Potato Day. It’s also fondly referred to as National Tater Day.
This day is not the only day devoted to sweet potatoes in the lists of national days. February 22 is also celebrated as National Cook a Sweet Potato Day.
April is a month full of national days devoted to all sorts of food. Check out the full list of April national food days here.
They also have entire months dedicated to them. November is Sweet Potato Awareness Month and February is National Sweet Potato Month.
For another vegetable inspired national day, be sure to check out National Spinach Day and National Artichoke Hearts Day.
Are sweet potatoes healthier than normal potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a very versatile and popular vegetable. Many people use them as a substitute for normal potatoes.
While potatoes are lower in both fat and sugar, sweet potatoes have less calories and fewer carbohydrates. They also contain more Vitamin A and C. On the other hand, white potatoes contain more protein.
Sweet potatoes are a very rich source of fiber and included a load of minerals and vitamins, including iron, selenium and Vitamin B.
One of the best nutritional benefits of eating sweet potatoes is that they are high in beta carotene, an antioxidant that helps to protect the body against free radicals.
Sweet potatoes are also slightly lower on the glycemic index than normal potatoes, which is helpful if you are watching for blood sugar spikes.
Fun facts about sweet potatoes
If you love adding sweet potatoes to your diet, you may be interested in these fun facts.
- Sweet potatoes and yams are not the same vegetable. Yams are starchy edible roots that are orange in color. Sweet potatoes can vary from white to orange and even purple.
- It takes 90 to 120 days for a sweet potato to be ready for harvest after planting.
- Store your sweet potatoes in a cool and dry place. Avoid the fridge, or you’ll end up with a hard center and sour taste.
- The official vegetable of North Carolina is the sweet potato.
- Sweet potatoes can be stored for up to two weeks.
- George Washington grew sweet potatoes on his Mount Vernon, Virginia farm.
- The sweet potato is considered a super food.
For another Food holiday in April, be sure to check out National Cinnamon Crescent Day.
Ways to celebrate Sweet Potato Day
How will you celebrate Sweet Potato Day? Here are a few ideas.
- Spread the word on social media using the hashtags #sweetpotatoday, #nationaltaterday and #taterday.
- Plant a sweet potato vine in your garden. It is super easy to grow and makes a great ground cover.
- Read Little Sweet Potato to your child. It’s a fun book about appreciating one’s self, bumps and all!
Recipes for Sweet Potato Day
Of course, the best way to celebrate Sweet Potato Day is with a great tasting recipe. Try one of these on for size.
Recipes for Sweet Potato Day (Also known as National Tater Day)
Sweet potatoes can be used in all sorts of recipes, from fries, to energy bites through to roasted vegetables and soups. If you are looking for some inspiration, try one of these tasty recipes
These no bake sweet potato energy balls are a powerhouse of nutrients in one delicious bite. The balls are naturally sweet with a bit of a kick from fresh ginger and are the perfect way to add healthy nutrition to your snack time.
I love French fries as much as the next person, but when you are trying to eat a more clean diet, normal French fries are a bit of a no no. Instead, try making these baked crispy sweet potato fries.
These Italian sweet potatoes combine with fresh herbs and diced tomatoes for the most amazing full flavored side dish. They are wonderful served with any protein and even taste great as leftovers the next day as part of a cooked breakfast.
These Paleo Sweet Potato Breakfast Stacks make a great base for other breakfast foods. The sweet potato acts like a piece of bread and it gets stacked with the most amazing tastes. Trust me, you won’t miss the carbs on this one!
One of the staples of Southern Cooking is the sweet potato casserole. It's rich and sweet with a layer of toasted marshmallows on top and delicious brown sugar in the filling.
These gluten-free Sweet Potato Banana Bites have just four main ingredients and make a great snack for both kids and adults!
This turkey sweet potato chili recipe is healthy, cozy, comforting, and easy to cook. It makes great leftovers for meal prep!
Easy, delicious, and vibrant Sweet Potato Taco Bowl! Take taco night up to the next level with this delicious and healthy meal!
This vegan sweet potato curry recipe is loaded with good stuff including red lentils, chickpeas, oodles of sweet potatoes, and a vibrant blend of spices. This vegan curry is easily made in the slow cooker.
Enjoy these Sweet Potato Waffles for a kid-friendly and perfect for breakfast, pre-workout fuel or an afternoon snack. Add some peanut butter in the middle for a fun waffle sandwich!
No protein powder is required for these Sweet Potato Protein Cookies! They’re gluten-free, made with real food ingredients and packed with protein and fiber. Enjoy them for breakfast or an afternoon snack!
Pin this post on Sweet Potato Day for later
Would you like a reminder of this post for Sweet Potato Day? Just pin this image to one of your boards on Pinterest.
Watch this YouTube video to learn about more food days in April.
There are close to 2000 national days in a year. April has more than 150 alone. Check out the list of national days in April that we’ll be celebrating this month for more fun ideas.
Ceb
Wednesday 7th of August 2019
Will definitely try the vegan sweet potato curry, as a curry lover i find this dish interesting.