Sweet!


There is an excellent article in the Star Tribune today about sweet potatoes:

Sweet Potatoes - A Winter Staple

Over our 36 years, regular potatoes have been a big part of our menu.  For decades, we have offered such favorites as Potato Salad, Au Gratin Potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes, and Mashed Potatoes.

These are fantastically popular, delicious side dishes that have been signature items for us. We are the first to acknowledge the effect butter and cheese, when added to any potato, have on our taste buds!
Cheesy potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. We  also know firsthand the love folks have for our dynamite Potato Salad!

We also acknowledge the recent rise in popularity, as mentioned in the above article, of sweet potatoes. So a few years back, we added them as a stand alone dish, the simple and tasty Mashed Sweet Potato, and combined them with regular potatoes and yukon gold potatoes to create what we call the Golden Harvest Medley. Both of these menu items also employ butter, salt, and pepper to enhance flavor and palatability...of course!

Some of the rise in popularity of the sweet potato has to do with health concerns, and these considerations are always taken into account when we create dishes.  As a fan of the paleo movement, I have learned that the sweet potato is a staple in that type of eating, and for good reason.

Some of my favorite books on paleo eating are The Paleo Diet For Athletes and Well Fed. These sources take a common sense approach to eating and don't go overboard, which leaves enjoyment of food squarely on the table. We believe eating should be pleasurable!

In these and many other sources, we find that the vitamin and mineral profile of the sweet potato vs. the regular potato leaves the sweet potato as hands down winner. The glycemic index is another factor. What is the glycemic index?

The glycemic index (or GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar (glucose) levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested, absorbed and metabolised and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar (glucose) levels. Low GI carbohydrates – the ones that produce smaller fluctuations in your blood glucose and insulin levels – is one of the secrets to long-term health, reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is also one of the keys to maintaining weight loss. 

 Most sources assign a GI of 98 to the regular potato, and 66 to the sweet potato. So in terms of the two potatoes effect on blood sugar, again the sweet potato is the front runner.

 As I noted, we here at Divine Swine Catering think eating should be a pleasurable, and yes, fun experience. In fact, our entire operation is based on that premise. 

 So regular potatoes are staying on the menu, on the buffet, and on your plate(until you devour them!).. We have simply added the sweet potato for those who enjoy them - both for their great flavor and for their health advantages. There is a place for both.

 That's a sweet choice!

 Check out our potato and other delicious choices for your next special event. We guarantee it will be a fun and pleasurable experience!

 Our fantastic menu choices!




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