It's time for the Rise of the Sweet Potato.....

Fall is upon us and with it, the rise of Pumpkin Spice everything.  This Basic Becky flavor has permeated everything from breakfast cereal to coffee and even dog treats.  I have seen the some of the worst pumpkin spice abominations in the world and all I ask myself is "WHYYYYY! WHY HAVE THE FOOD GODS FORSAKEN US!!!"  America, (because you damn well know the rest of the world hasn't jumped on this fall foolery), there is such a point that you need to just STOP THE MADNESS. 

https://www.delish.com/food-news/g3649/gross-pumpkin-spice-products/

https://mashable.com/2017/09/17/worst-pumpkin-foods/#_zbbiVR0Ysqw



I'm here to tell you, there is another contender for fall foods.  That often misunderstood tuber that people think is only good for one thing. The Sweet Potato.  The lowly sweet potato has been maligned and taken for granted. 

Nutritionally, the pumpkin has less calories and sugar, but WHO EATS PUMPKIN. I don't see people chopping up a pumpkin and eating it as a side with a sandwich. You get pumpkin seeds (which are awesome yes), pumpkin pie, pumpkin rolls/muffins, and some people have pumpkin soup.  I mean, the uses for the actual PUMPKIN are much more limited than the sweet potato. Pumpkin is also great for dogs who have poop problems and upset tummies.  So that is definitely a point in its favor. 

Pumpkin Spice is also the Biggest. Marketing. Gimmick. Ever.  The smell of pumpkin pie evokes strong memories in a lot of people, and 70% of what we taste is tied to smell.  Starbucks hit the marketing jackpot when it invented the limited time, seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I mean, LIMITED TIME means run out and buy it right now because omg it will be gone and what will we do if we have to wait another year we might not survive!!!  Pumpkin Spice has become synonymous with extreme Caucasity, Ugg Boots, Leggings, Messy Buns and girls named Becky.


 https://www.buzzfeed.com/vchamlee/how-pumpkin-spice-conquered-the-world?utm_term=.vqNeZ3Mb6#.qbL7g25lb

Sweet potatoes, however, ARE. THE. BOMB. (Fight me).  They are available year round, unlike pumpkin unless you get it in a can, and have a TON of nutrients.  I mean, you can feed a whole ass village off some sweet potatoes.

https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/a19827525/sweet-potato-vs-pumpkin/

Now here is a bit of knowledge for you.  Sweet potatoes are NOT yams. And yams are NOT sweet potatoes.  Unless you have visited certain countries in Asia and Africa or looked for them specifically in some grocery stores, you probably have never HAD a yam.  Yams in that big can that everybody's grandmother bought at the grocery store and used to make candied yams? Not yams. Sweet potatoes.

https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-yams-and-sweet-potatoes-word-of-mouth-211176

Sweet potatoes are beasts when it comes to nutrition and they are just as versatile, if not more so, than pumpkins. They are gluten free, high in protein and can be used if you are looking for something instead of meat.

https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/healthyish-sweet-potato-recipes


Join me on Team Sweet Potato.  Resist the lure of the Dark Side of the Force. Its time the rebel forces stood up against this tyranny.  



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