Sweet Potato Bar

Many of my clients are looking for quick, family-friendly meal ideas. One idea I go back to over and over with them is the idea of a bar. Think taco bar, pasta bar, sweet potato bar, etc. Kids can choose which toppings they enjoy and feel like they have control over their meal, which also makes them more likely to eat it. Also, if one family member loves jalapenos in their taco, and the other can’t take the heat, the meals can be customized and everyone is happy with their creation.

On Friday night Funk and I enjoyed a sweet potato bar together at home. I started by cooking two sweet potatoes in the microwave for about 8 minutes to get them soft. Then I cut them in half to get the taters ready for all the toppings:

• Vegetarian Refried Beans
• Peach Salsa
• Shredded Soy Cheese
• Guacamole

Those Trader Joes (veg) refried black beans with jalapenos were incredible! They were so flavorful, lightly spicy, and made a great topping on the potatoes. I’ll be buying these more to use interchangeably with hummus as a sandwich or cracker spread.

A lot of people think potatoes are a “bad” food. Wrong! Potatoes actually have more potassium than a banana and hold much of their nutrients, including loads of fiber, in their skin. Sweet potatoes are stuffed with vitamin A. So enjoy your potatoes – stick with a small-medium sized tater – with the skin on.

We topped the potatoes and put them in the toaster oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese, then scooped some guacamole I had made on the side. It was a delicious complete meal, easy, and easy to please.