| My son was off to university, embarking on his | | | | sweet potato mash by blending it with a chopped |
| firstadventure into the world. | | | | red chilli which has been sautéed for a |
| My heart was pumping with anxiety, with worries | | | | couple of minutes in a little olive oil |
| about how hewas going to survive without me, | | | | ·Alternatively peel and cut the sweet |
| his mother. | | | | potato into chips, toss with grated parmesan, a |
| I tried to get him excited about nutritious food, | | | | pinch of mustard, and couple of spoons of olive |
| enlightenhim about the secrets of health, and | | | | oil, and roast until golden brown |
| proveto him in every possible way that some | | | | Make it a complete vegetarian dish. Peel and chop |
| foods have farsuperior nutritional worth than | | | | one sweet potato into little cubes. Heat two |
| others. | | | | tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan; |
| To get his attention and to persuade him that my | | | | add a pinch of turmeric to the oil |
| words ofwisdom were worth hearing I tried to | | | | Chop one small red onion finely, add to the oil, stir |
| appeal to hisphilosophical views... | | | | for a couple of minutes, then add the sweet |
| "When it comes to livelihood you know well that | | | | potato to the pan. Let it fry for ten minutes, until |
| friendshipis what makes life sweet. When it | | | | soft. Drain, a can of chick peas, and add to the |
| comes to vitality I wantyou to know that a | | | | pan with couple of tablespoons of ready made |
| sweet potato with its bright orangeflesh, and its | | | | pasta sauce. To give it a twist, add some |
| luscious sweet taste, could be your friendfor all | | | | chopped coriander for an Asian flavour |
| seasons." | | | | Or simply turn a plain simple couscous or a Quinoa |
| "It has an extraordinary power to protect you | | | | into an interesting, tasty dish by adding any |
| from illness. | | | | left-overs of your sweet potato dishes to them |
| It holds high amounts of beneficial substances to | | | | "Regardless of how you prepare this delightful |
| detoxifyyour body and boost your immune | | | | vegetable, itlooks pretty on any plate, and |
| system. It is a gem, worthgetting to know, and it | | | | beautifully compliments anygrilled, roasted or |
| is a friend never to depart with." | | | | baked chicken, fish, or beef dish." |
| He looked at me with a blank face. To justify my | | | | "When it comes to eating habits I say a sweet |
| briefspeech, and keep his attention away from | | | | potato, wouldeasily makes your day any day. You |
| the TV I cleared mythroat and continued with | | | | can always devour in itwith pleasure. Whether is |
| authority: | | | | cold and gloomy, or hot and sunny. |
| "This modest looking orange flesh root is full of | | | | It is never boring, always rewarding, always |
| beta-carotene (vitamin A) and rich in vitamin C. It | | | | satisfying. Andwith only 87 calories per 100g." |
| is the bestlow fat source of vitamin E, which | | | | "Also it releases carbohydrates slowly into your |
| benefits cardiovascularhealth and also the skin, | | | | system,which results in being energized without |
| soothing inflammatory conditionssuch as eczema | | | | producing the moodswings or cravings normally |
| or psoriasis and generally improves | | | | associated with simplecarbohydrates such as |
| thecomplexion." | | | | white bread or pasta. This makes it agreat |
| "Sweet potato also contains protein, and a | | | | alternative to less nutritious carbohydrates." |
| number ofvaluable minerals including calcium, | | | | "This is a great health secret. This is thefood you |
| magnesium, potassium,and phosphorous. These | | | | can enjoy with no guilt and reap all thehealth |
| help to build strong bones, teeth andhealthy blood | | | | benefits..." |
| cells as well as support the nervous system,heart, | | | | Yes there was a long silence after my exhausting |
| and kidney. Its high iron content is beneficial | | | | speech. Icould see he was trying hard, real |
| forpreventing, and alleviating iron-deficiency | | | | hard...perhaps not tooffend me...with his verdict: |
| anaemia." | | | | "Mum I don't exactly know how you expect me |
| "And I know what you're thinking...yes it is | | | | to memoriserecipes as you list them off like an |
| technicallypossible to live on sweet potatoes." | | | | excited sweet potatoadvertising rep, or how you |
| I look at my son's face. His blank expression had | | | | expect me to know what quinoais. You fed me |
| beenswapped with a puzzled gaze. He was not | | | | this so called magic food for a long time,and I ate |
| saying anything, so | | | | it, but it does not mean that I liked it. Imean....It's |
| I took it as kind of 'yes' and carried on. | | | | weird." |
| "Its other health benefits are to cleanse,and sooth | | | | "And also, I'm not exactly a master chef, so I |
| the digestive system, so it may be an ideal | | | | can't spendall my time working out how to cook |
| foodto eat after any digestive upsets of any kind. | | | | freaky stuff. I need tohave a life.....I need to |
| The highantioxidant levels in this magic vegetable | | | | socialize to enhance the quality ofmy life which |
| make itprotective against the risk of cancer, | | | | means going out as often as possible whichmeans |
| heart disease andstrokes. It promotes good | | | | I won't have time to cook. Students live on fast |
| circulation and is beneficial toulcers. The darker the | | | | food,who am I to buck the trend? I mean I might |
| orange colour the more antioxidantsit contains." | | | | raid supermarketslate at night to get the reduced |
| "The sweet potato also has high levels of folic | | | | food, but that means Ican't really plan what I'm |
| acid whichprotect an unborn baby from spinal | | | | going to eat." |
| bifida. The folic acidalso strengthens the nervous | | | | "Beside I need to attend couple of lectures if you |
| system and the blood cells ofboth child and | | | | want meto come back with some kind of paper |
| mother. Bearing all of these benefits inmind, you | | | | in my hand. I'm afraidto say that I just will not |
| must admit that one of the secrets of goodhealth | | | | have time to cook. The fact Ihave never heard |
| is simply to have a sweet potato a day?" | | | | anybody dying from living on junk food, thefact |
| My son had reached the limit of his intake. He | | | | there is more in life than worrying about what I |
| shook hishead and said with bored rebellion | | | | put inmy mouth, means I'm afraid I just don't |
| "Ok, this magical vegetable has all the goodness | | | | care." |
| that theplanet of earth can offer a poor student, | | | | I looked at him with despair, and disbelief.... How |
| but what are yougetting at? Folic acid? Heart | | | | does itcome that my son with all his intelligence, all |
| disease? Psoriasis? What hasany of this got to do | | | | hisknowledge of the latest computers and ... gigs... |
| with me? I know you are into | | | | and stuff... allhis... when it comes to understanding, |
| Personal Development like good health andstuff | | | | and appreciating thepower of wholesome food on |
| like that, but not me, mom" | | | | his well being, can be asignorant as I become |
| I took his questions as a sign of interest, and | | | | when it comes to understanding thecomputer. |
| carried onwith my full enthusiasm. | | | | I cringed with anger, and frustration. I scowled |
| "This wonderful vegetable, with all its incredible | | | | "Ignorance is a curse. You are going to make |
| wealth,and with its delicious sweet flavour, is easy | | | | friends toenhance your social life, but you need |
| to prepare,always a treat to palate, and beautifully | | | | more than ever tomake friends with miracle |
| compliments mostdishes. It is utterly delicious | | | | foods, to enhance your well beingfor the years to |
| baked or roasted. Just heatthe oven to 200C, cut | | | | come." |
| it in half, put in on a baking tray,drizzle with a little | | | | He looked at the bag of sweet potatoes I had in |
| olive oil, season with salt and pepperand bake for | | | | my handspityingly. |
| 20 minutes." | | | | "They taste good with marshmallows" I tried in |
| "You can play with it in many simple ways to | | | | vain. |
| vary theflavour: | | | | His pity turned to a smile and he took the bag. |
| As a whole baked, just top it with a handful of | | | | Young peopleare so easy to connect with |
| cheese, or crème fraiche | | | | sometimes, but only if you playtheir game... And I |
| Toss it in olive oil, crushed garlic and thyme | | | | am tired of playing games. |
| before roasting ·Make a scrumptious | | | | |