The idea for these enchilada stuffed sweet potatoes came from the same place all my food inspirations do: hunger. And the desire to have healthy food to eat with very little time or effort.
Our day was all screwy today because I slept in til 10. Oops. A dear friend came over to keep me company last night and we chatted until somewhere around 2:30 or 3 this morning. And it was stupid and it was worth it. Because girlfriends.
So then it was free-for-all and my kids ate whatever they found for breakfast, then my oldest made a batch of muffins for a late morning snack and then it was nap time.
But while my littles were snoozing or playing quietly in their roomssneaking out of their rooms to wreak havoc every five minutes, I started to get really hungry. I broke into my stash of secret cookies (no crying in my closet, just good, old fashioned indulgence on the sly), but that didn’t hold me over for long.
I remembered the sweet potatoes I’d put in the Instant Pot earlier in the morning because I wisely knew I’d need something easy to eat while I was dragging through the day (still worth the soul-nourishing time spent with my friend!). I also remembered I had a small bowl of browned hamburger meat and a jar of salsa verde somewhere in the back of the pantry. Boom. Late lunch/early dinner/whatever was ready to eat in five minutes.
Tips for fast, easy, and HEALTHY eating
While our family is in this weird transition pre-move and having to show our house while it’s on the market and going through a general cruddy period of major adjustment, my commitment to eating as well as we’re used to has waned.
I told you we ate Chick fil A earlier this week because we had two showings through the lunch hour, and that was ok, even if it wasn’t ideal. (Why Chick fil A is, like, the health-obsessed’s fast food of choice, I don’t know. But I like waffle fries.)
But I really did decide that I was ready to get back on the horse and do my very best to nourish us with our normal healthy fare. I meal planned the simplest of menus, but kept it paleo, and it was easier than I expected.
I prepared a breakfast casserole the night before the showings with eggs from our backyard hens, sausage, onions, green chilis, and cheese and we all loved it. I made two loaves of paleobanana bread Sunday night that we ate over the last few days and it was awesome.
We made my 10 minute oven-cooked lemon thyme salmon and I felt so nourished with truly minimal effort.
And I set aside that left over browned hamburger meat from earlier in the week and used my Instant Pot nearly every day.
So now, I’m working on making Sundays my prep day, even if I just make some bread and a casserole.
If you have a busy schedule and aren’t home much to cook during the week, I suggest browning a couple pounds of hamburger meat, baking some sweet potatoes, and chopping some veggies for the week ahead. Just a little planning will go a long way.
If you need some fresh ideas for fast, healthy, budget-friendly food:
Check out the new e-book 30 Minute Clean Eats on a Budget, a cookbook featuring recipes from some top paleo bloggers (and even a few of my own!). You can check it out here.
For some more fast, healthy, kid-friendly meals, try these:
Greek Burger recipe with Special Sauce
Oven-Cooked Lemon Thyme Salmon
For another quick, easy,healthymeal you can get on the table in no time, grab the recipe for Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes below.
Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Prep Time2 minutes mins
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time7 minutes mins
Servings: 4 Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 cooked sweet potatoes or cook in the Instant Pot for quick prep
- 2 cups browned hamburger meat refrigerated is fine
- 1/4- 1/2 cup salsa verde
- shredded cheese sour cream, and guacamole for topping; optional
Instructions
Turn oven on low broil.
Cut each sweet potato in half lengthwise, leaving the bottom intact.
Scoop about 1/2 cup hamburger meat in each sweet potato.
Top the hamburger meat with desired amount of salsa verde.
Top with shredded cheese, if desired.
Place under broiler for 5 minutes, then, if using cheese, turn broiler on high and cook 1-2 minutes longer to brown the cheese before removing.
Top with guacamole, sour cream, fresh chopped green onions, and cilantro, if desired.
Related posts:
- 45 Primal and Paleo Diet Breakfast Recipes to Get You Out of Your Breakfast Rut
- Gingerdoodles: The Healthy Holiday Cookie for GAPS, Paleo, and Primal Diets
- Golden Hot Chocolate Easy To Prepare Recipe from Nourishing Holiday
FAQs
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.
Why are stuffed sweet potatoes good for you? ›
Not only will you eat more veggies but you'll get tons of fibre for gut-health, plant-based protein for feeling satisfied and complex carbohydrates for sustainable energy. One stuffed sweet potato is pretty filling so you may find that it makes an entire meal for you - depending on how hungry you are of course!
Are there any health benefits to eating sweet potatoes? ›
Research shows that sweet potatoes can lower your LDL "bad" cholesterol, which may lower your odds of heart problems. Macular degeneration. Large amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin A, which are in sweet potatoes, can lower your chances of getting this eye disease, which is the most common cause of vision loss.
Are baked sweet potatoes healthy? ›
Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber to support your eye, digestive and heart health. They're generally safe to eat daily, especially if you eat them with calcium to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. There are so many fun and tasty ways to eat sweet potatoes.
Is it healthier to bake or microwave a sweet potato? ›
It's really the best way. Microwaving sweet potatoes cuts down cook time by 45 to 55 minutes, and, according to a 2018 study, helps maintain the potato's nutritional value. All cooking methods cause foods to lose some of their nutrients, but the quicker your potato cooks, the more nutrients it will retain.
Is sweet potatoes healthy or unhealthy? ›
They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.
Are sweet potatoes healthy for weight loss? ›
Absolutely. Besides their health benefits, sweet potatoes are a great addition to any weight loss diet. First up, they're very high in fibre — especially soluble fibre. Soluble fibre is excellent because it slows down your digestion and helps you feel full, which can curb the urge to snack between meals.
Is it OK to eat sweet potato everyday? ›
If knowing the benefits of sweet potatoes has you ready to eat them regularly, you may be wondering if the adage “too much of a good thing” applies. While both our experts say eating a sweet potato a day is certainly healthy, they don't recommend more than that, since there are plenty of other vegetables to enjoy too.
Can diabetics eat sweet potatoes? ›
You can still eat sweet potatoes if you have diabetes, assures Huff. The fiber content in sweet potatoes, especially if you consume them with the skin on, can help reduce spikes in your blood sugar. Plus, how you cook your sweet potatoes can also help reduce the extent to which your blood sugar rises.
How many times a week should you eat sweet potatoes? ›
Because of their higher sugar levels and high vitamin A content, you can likely enjoy them in moderation about two or three times per week. Eating these vegetables too often could lead to too much vitamin A intake or increase the potential for negative effects on your blood sugar.
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, and their excessive consumption can lead to hypervitaminosis A (vitamin A toxicity), in which excess vitamin A accumulates in the liver. Although it is not considered harmful, the color of the skin and nails may turn orange.
How many sweet potatoes should I eat a day to lose weight? ›
Mindful portions: While sweet potatoes are nutritious, they still contain calories. Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid overconsumption. Aim for one medium-sized sweet potato per serving, which is approximately 130-150 grams or about the size of your fist.
Is sweet potato better than bread? ›
Sweet potatoes are generally considered a better source of carbohydrates compared to bread because they are less processed and contain more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
What can I put on sweet potatoes besides butter? ›
For something smoky, tangy, and nicely salty, smear some plain Greek yogurt on your sweet potato, then layer with smoked fish, scallions, and briny capers. Roast whatever mushrooms you have until crispy. Thin some tahini, adding a little yogurt for creaminess. Or mix hummus and yogurt, and spread on your potato.
Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes? ›
If you're trying to make the most out of your sweet potatoes and mitigate a potential spike in blood sugar, Sapola suggests boiling this veggie rather than roasting it. "The preparation technique for a sweet potato can drastically affect the glycemic impact of that sweet potato," Sapola explains.
Which is better baked or boiled sweet potatoes? ›
Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.
Are sweet potatoes healthier cooked or raw? ›
The nutrition facts for raw and baked sweet potatoes can be vastly different. One cup of raw sweet potato may contain 114 calories, 26.8 grams of carbs and 5.6 g sugar, whereas one cup of baked sweet potato may contain 180 calories, 41.4 g carbs and 16.9 g sugar. That's a big increase in carbs and sugars.
Is it better to steam or bake sweet potato? ›
Steaming sweet potatoes preserves more of their nutrients and is a faster alternative than baking.
Does frying sweet potatoes remove nutrients? ›
Boiling retained more iron and copper while frying retained more zinc, magnesium, sodium and calcium in both Irish and sweet potato tubers. Boiling retained more carbohydrate while frying retained more vitamin C and minerals.
