Sweet potatoes are roots that grow underground, but they are actually not related to regular potatoes at all! They are a beautiful bright orange color inside and have a naturally sweet, yummy taste. Sweet potatoes originally came from Central America, and people have been eating them for over five thousand years. Even though we eat the part that grows underground, the sweet potato plant also grows pretty vines with heart-shaped leaves above the ground. One single sweet potato plant can grow several sweet potatoes under the soil at the same time!
Sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat because they are loaded with a vitamin called beta-carotene, which is what gives them their bright orange color. Beta-carotene is great for your eyes and helps keep your skin healthy too! Sweet potatoes can be baked, mashed, roasted, or made into crispy sweet potato fries. Some people even use them to make pies, muffins, and pancakes because they are so naturally sweet. Did you know that sweet potatoes can also come in purple, white, and even red colors? In some countries, sweet potato leaves are eaten as a green vegetable too, so almost every part of the plant is useful!
