Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Another Serving of Vegetables

You can't get fit without training, and you can't train if you don't have fuel in your tank. While I'd die happy (and fat) on a steady diet of Peanut Butter M&Ms, they don't pack much of a nutritional punch.

SWEET POTATOES, on the other hand, are a great source of high-energy complex carbohydrates for steady riding fuel. Sweet potatoes are also packed with beta carotene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant that may protect your muscles against riding-related damage and boost blood flow for better on-the-bike performance. Louisiana State University researchers found that 15 mg of beta carotene (the amount in a medium sweet potato) each day for 30 days helped runners run about 3% faster and shave 30 seconds off their 5K times.

Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
3 - 4 small sweet potatoes, peeled and diced in 1- to 3/4-inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place diced sweet potatoes in a small bowl; drizzle with honey and oil. Season potatoes with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with cinnamon and toss to coat with honey, oil and spices.

Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast until potatoes brown lightly, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter or bowl.

The touch of fat from the olive oil will help your body better absorb the beta carotene.

1 comment:

  1. LOVE THESE! Just had to get back on to get the recipe again. I told the girls that they are "Aunt Joey's Famous Sweet Potatoes"!!

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