Thank you so much for all the suggestions for toning thighs without running. I’m looking over all the (wonderful!) suggestions and will let you know my game plan 🙂 I’m just excited that it seems like I’m not doomed for flabby thighs! Yippee!
I like to think of myself as a person that doesn’t fall into food trends or take information as fact before doing my research, but I must admit, sometimes it happens.
This time I’m referring to potatoes.
Sweet potatoes vs plain old white (Russet) potatoes.
**VS**
I grew up eating baked (white) potatoes, either loaded with sour cream, salt and pepper or A-1 steak sauce (ohEMgee, I’m drooling, yum!). When I started getting more into health and nutrition, I was told that sweet potatoes were king and that they are all I should eat. With a heavy heart I tossed my beloved white potato aside and embraced it’s orange cousin with open arms.
Lately I’ve been thinking… did I not put up enough of a fight for my love affair with the white potato?
Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy sweet potatoes whether they are baked or roasted, they are delicious! However, every now and again I miss my old buddy, the russet. So I decided to take a closer look and see what really made a sweet potato SO MUCH better… what I found was surprising!
| (10.5 oz, large potato with skin) | Sweet Potato | Russet Potato |
| calories | 270 | 280 |
| fat | 0g | <1g |
| fiber | 9g | 7g |
| vitamins | good source of vitamin C, manganese and potassium. PLUS vitamin B6 and vitamin A | good source of vitamin C, manganese and potassium |
| carbs | 62g | 63g |
| sugar | 19g | 4g |
What’s your favorite potato??
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl says
I am a regular white potato fan. Or red potatoes. Or yukon gold potatoes. I haven’t made the conversion to sweet potatoes yet. I had sweet potato fries at a restaurant the other day and they were GREAT, but really, they were fried so of course they were awesome. I bought some sweet potatoes to try roasting, but haven’t done it yet! I’m shocked that there isn’t more of a difference between the two!
Sherry says
Thanks for the research. Great news! I looking forward to a baked white potato soon!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
Sweet potatoes really are my favorite….but sometimes you really can’t beat a good old Russet! [And I love A-1 on them too! Or BBQ sauce and black pepper…]
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
And can I please stop saying “really”?
PS. I feel like Russet potatoes and button mushrooms need to stage a PR campaign to regain their health factor. Thoughts?
PPS. Perhaps I should become their spokesperson.
Jessie says
My heart will always belong to the russet potato.
Caree @ Fit-Mama says
I was brought up with the russet potato. I don’t think I had ever tried a sweet potato before becoming an adult! And honestly, I had never heard that a sweet potato is better for you until recently. But in all honesty, it really isn’t…that is great to know!!
alex says
I am not a fan of sweet potatoes…I will stay a russet fan forrrreeeeveeerrrr
Carly says
I love russet potatoes! But I think the big difference for me is that I do pile them up with butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, etc! And with sweet potatoes I just add a few simple spices. I guess if I get my toppings in moderation, russet potatoes are the way to go. 🙂
Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans says
I hate the the white potato got a bad reputation. In moderation I truly believe its a healthy addition to a balanced diet. Enjoy your Russets!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says
sweet potatoes for sure. i eat them pretty much every day. my favorite way is diced and roasted with curry powder and cayenne pepper! deeeelicious. or thinly sliced and baked as chips
Tina says
I certainly never shy away from either potato source. Love sweet potatoes, but I’m with you – sometimes a classic white will only do.
Rachel (Olalliberry) says
I am an equal opportunity potato eater! White, yellow, orange, purple, whatever. I love them all! But I’ve never tried steak sauce on a baked potato…
Maria @ Oh Healthy Day says
There’s a version of sweet potatoes that are white and it’s a great hybrid! When cooked, they get very moist and soft, but not fall apart soft like most sweet potatoes.
Had no idea that they were that high in sugar though!
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good says
I like all potatoes! Thank you for the nutritional breakdown; they each have their good qualities.
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous. says
I like all potatoes too! I like to think of sweet potatoes as the candy version 🙂
Jess @atasteofconfidence says
I like sweet potatoes better, but it is a pure taste thing- not really a health thing:) Thanks for the breakdown!
christen says
wow pretty interesting! They sure do talk up sweet potatoes a good bit for them being so surprisingly similar! I’m with you I will still enjoy both!
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks says
I love all potatoes…but probably red potatoes are my favorite. Homefries, anyone? 🙂
Melissa says
I am a white potato fan at heart. Thanks for clearing this up because I thought the sweet was a better choice, but I see maybe not so much.
Roz says
This is great news, I’m a russet fan, but haven’t had one in a while. This weekend, I just might!! Have a great rest of the week.
Nicole @ Of Cookies & Carrots says
I’ve been craving sweet potatoes like mad recently, and I’m not entirely sure why… Maybe because they’re just so carby and comforting? 😉
I do love me some russets with nutritional yeast though.
Lynn says
Could be rare to find skillful persons with this topic, you be understood as you are aware of exactly what you are writing on! Thanks a lot
lauren says
I’m so glad to hear this! I’m just not on the sweet tater bandwagon. I really want to like them, baked, roasted, as fries…but I just can’t do it! I like a little bit mixed in my hash browns though!
I wonder if it is the sweetness that gets me, I’m not a big fan of squash, corn, or roasted carrots either.