Potato, Pa-tato

On this Fulfilled Foodie Friday, my recipe I'd like to share is a quick crockpot meal for anyone who likes hot sauce + chicken (so, pretty much everyone!). Also, today's nutrition myth buster has to do with sweet potatoes vs white potatoes.

I've heard from others at times “Sweet potatoes are healthier than white potatoes, so I never eat regular potatoes”

What makes a food healthier you ask? Notta. It can be harmful to label a food as healthier because someone may then choose to avoid the food deemed “less healthy”. I always remind my clients that every food has its own unique nutrient profile.

They both have a similar amount of energy for the body, protein, and fiber. Sweet potatoes provide more Vitamin A (which you can tell this by the orange hue!). Vitamin A is an antioxidant, protects the body from free radicals, or potential harmful substances. White potatoes have more potassium, which is an electrolyte and helpful for hydration and muscle health. We need all of these things! Yum!

Choose which one works for you in the moment, as they are both nourishing. And I’d encourage eating both throughout your life and avoiding elimination of any food!

So, in scientific nutrition summary, potato, pa-tato.

Recipe:

Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Bowl

This made about 4-5 meals (depending on the individuals nutrition needs, this may vary)

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts

1-1.5 cups Franks hot sauce (more if you like it spicy)

1 Tbsp minced garlic

salt & pepper to taste

3-4 Large sweet potatoes

2 crowns of broccoli

1-2 Tbsp olive oil

Optional: Cheddar cheese, sour cream or ranch

Recipe:

1. Turn crockpot to high setting. Cut large chicken breasts into strips and add to chicken to crockpot. Add hot sauce, garlic, salt and pepper and cover. Let sit for about 6 hours.

Shortly before being ready to eat:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Cook sweet potatoes:

   1. Option 1: Bowl style. Dice sweet potatoes into 1 inch cubes (with or without skin) and put on a microwave safe plate. Place a fully damp paper towel on top of plate with sweet potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes or until done.

   2. Option 2: Sweet potato cut in half. Take a fork and poke many holes into the sweet potato. Place on microwave safe plate and place in microwave. Cook for 7-9 minutes per sweet potato.

3. Cook broccoli by cutting off broccoli stalk. Cut to desired shape. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in over for 10 minutes, check for preferred doneness.

4. Stir chicken occasionally. Once cooked fully, mix well and chicken should fall apart in the crock pot.

5. Top sweet potato with the buffalo chicken, cheese, broccoli and sour cream or ranch.

6. Enjoy!