Don’t be fooled by the last name: Regular potatoes and sweet potatoes aren’t exactly close family. They’re considered “distantly related” at best in the world of botanic genealogy, with some pretty big differences.
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At the dinner table, though, they’re often viewed as side-dish siblings — right down to the rivalry over which one is more nutritious. There’s also plenty of arguing over which spud is yummier, of course.
To settle the debate — at least in regard to which potato is the healthier option — we turn to registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD. (You’re on your own for taste.)
The importance of potatoes and sweet potatoes
Potatoes and sweet potatoes might not look all that impressive, but those oval-shaped vegetables rank as two of the world’s most-produced crops. Both are viewed as essential for global food security.
Farmers pulled more than 370 million metric tons of potatoes out of the ground in 2019. The total sweet potato harvest, meanwhile, reached almost 92 million metric tons during that same year.
“Potatoes and sweet potatoes are a diet staple around the world,” says Czerwony. “And aside from being healthy, they’re inexpensive and versatile in meals.”
Botany 101
Potatoes are part of the nightshade family, while sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory clan. Both are considered root vegetables, meaning the part of the plant you eat grows beneath the soil.
Regular potatoes have white or yellow flesh inside, while sweet potatoes are known for having orange innards. Both typically have brownish skin; though, that can vary depending on the variety.
There are more than 4,000 different types of potatoes and 1,000 varieties of sweet potatoes grown around the globe.
Nutrition: potato vs. sweet potato
Let’s start with this basic fact: Potatoes and sweet potatoes bring a lot to the table when it comes to nutrition, says Czerwony. They’re both lower-calorie, low-fat foods that are rich in:
- Fiber. The key to this health benefit, though, is to eat the skin of the spuds. “Half of the fiber from a potato or a sweet potato is in the skin,” says Czerwony. (Just make sure to wash the skin well to remove any dirt.)
- Carbohydrates. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are considered starchy vegetables given their high-carb content, which provides an energy boost.
- Potassium. Fun fact: Potatoes and sweet potatoes contain more potassium than a banana. (Learn about other foods packed with potassium.)
- Vitamin B6. A medium-sized potato or sweet potato supplies about 30% of your recommended daily value of vitamin B6, which works to bolster your brain and nervous system.
- Vitamin C. Surprised by this? A lot of people are. You can get about one-third of your daily recommended amount of vitamin C through either a potato or sweet potato. (Take that, oranges.)
Here’s a side-by-side nutritional comparison.
So which potato is healthiest?
No matter how you peel away at this question, one thing is obvious — potatoes and sweet potatoes both qualify as healthy, nutritious foods. “Neither one of them is a bad choice,” says Czerwony.
But if you have to pick just one, sweet potatoes hold a slight edge, says Czerwony. The main reason? Beta carotene and vitamin A.
Sweet potatoes trace their colorful orange flesh to the presence of beta carotene, an antioxidant that works to protect your body’s cells from damage and diseases like cancer. Your body converts the beta carotene into off-the-charts levels of vitamin A.
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“That’s the main reason why sweet potatoes come across as a little bit of a better option,” says Czerwony. “But in the end, it comes down to personal preference.”
Her best advice? “Use them both. It’ll add some variety to your diet.”
Cooking healthy with potatoes and sweet potatoes
While potatoes and sweet potatoes may be healthy, it’s also easy to turn potato-based food into a fatty calorie bomb. All the goodness in those spuds doesn’t cancel out the negatives that come with a dip in a deep fryer, for instance.
A 2017 study even found that eating fried potatoes twice a week increased your risk of death. That’s bad news given the amount of French fries and potato chips in many diets.
So, how should you cook potatoes or sweet potatoes to get the most benefit? Baking them causes the least reduction in nutrients, says Czerwony. Be careful with the toppings you add afterward, though … and make sure to eat the skin.
If you’re looking for ideas for healthier potato or sweet potato dishes, here are a few to try:
Healthier potato recipes
- Twice-Baked Potatoes.
- Light and Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
- Light and Crispy Potato Latkes.
- Summer Veggie Potato Salad.
Healthier sweet potato recipes
- Baked Cajun Sweet Potato Fries.
- Ginger Sweet Potato Pancakes.
- Rosemary Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
- Savory Sweet Potato Mousse.
- Light Sweet Potato Casserole.
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