Sweet Potato Toast

Sweet potato toast has been all over social media, recently, and for good reason. Not only is this healthy food trend delicious, it’s also super-easy to make. Sweet potatoes are the darling of the healthy living community. A good source of complex carbohydrate, they also provide lots of fiber ( about 4 grams in one cup or a 5-inch medium sweet potato) for slow-burning energy. In a one-cup serving, you’ll also get 377% of your daily Vitamin A needs ( key for eye health and immune system function) and 448 mg of potassium, which benefits numerous muscle and nerve functions and helps fight bloating as well.

With the increasing popularity of grain-free and gluten-free diets, the internet is full of creative bread alternatives so no one has to sit out #ToastTuesday due to a dietary restriction. All you do is toast up sweet potato slices and add your favorite toppings. The only equipment you’ll need are a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a toaster or oven. Keep in mind that thicker slices will take longer to cook. When in doubt, toast on a lower setting and do a few cycles (or bake or broil at a lower temperature for longer) to avoid burning.

By the way, you can totally do this with white potatoes too if sweet potatoes just aren’t your thing or your palms are starting to turn orange from all that beta-carotene!

Have fun experimenting with different toppings. Need some inspiration? Try your favorite nut butter and jelly, coconut oil, avocado slices, goat cheese, or an egg.

Sweet Potato Toast

Ingredients:

1 sweet potato, sliced thin

Toppings: peanut butter, coconut oil, egg, sliced avocado, or other toppings

Directions:

1. Place sweet potato slices in a toaster or toaster oven, or lay them on a foil-lined baking sheet and placing in a conventional oven.

2. Toast until soft inside and crispy outside. If using a toaster, use low to medium setting. This should take 5-10 minutes, depending on how thick the potato is sliced. If baking, preheat oven to 350 degrees before inserting baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 5 to 10 minutes. Toast is done when the outside is crispy and the inside is soft when pricked with a fork.

3. Top with desired toppings.

Jessica Cording, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian, health coach, and writer with a passion for helping others experience a happier, calmer life and a balanced relationship with food. For those in need of some healthy-eating inspiration, Jess created five day's worth of delicious make-ahead lunches to make it even easier to eat well on a busy day. For more information on Jess, check out her website and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Main Photo Credit: mama_mia/shutterstock.com; Second Photo Credit: NADKI/shutterstock.com