Sweet potatoes and black beans have to be two of the most versatile foods on the planet. As least in my world they are. The options are endless when it comes to sweet potatoes but they are absolutely the star of the show in these Sweet Potato Enchiladas.
I am obsessed with sweet potatoes. I love putting them in soups, stews, desserts and everywhere in between. I love the flavour but I’m in awe of the health benefits that they provide. Isn’t it awesome when something that tastes so good is SO good for you?
Starch veggies like sweet potatoes are a type of complex carbohydrate.
Complex carbs are mostly plant based foods and include starch, a type of carbohydrate stored in plants, and most importantly, fiber. Some additional food sources include breads, grains such as quinoa, beans, lentils, brown rice and of course sweet potatoes. Thanks to the fiber, they also leave you feeling fuller which reduces overeating and helps to manage cravings.
So just why do we need complex carbohydrates? Here are 5 reasons for ya:
Digestion – foods such as vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, and fruits all contain fiber which help to move things along and keep us more regular.
Energy – Don’t we all need a little bit more of this? Push the coffee aside and start your day with whole grains. Carbs from whole grains release slowly into the blood stream and take most of the day to pass through our bodies. This is why we don’t experience the same crash as we do from sugary drinks.
Better Sleep – Trytophan relaxes our bodies and helps send us off to la la land. Carbs like bananas, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice and pumpkin contain vast amounts. Actually eating carbs just before we hit the pillow can help to us to fall asleep more quickly and minimize waking up through the night.
Metabolism –There’s an assumption that low-carb diets improve metabolism ultimately leading to weight loss. Actually the opposite is true my friends. Yes, you may lose some weight on a low carb diet however your metabolism actually slows down the longer you eliminate carbs from your diet.
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This Sweet Potato Enchilada recipe is courtesy of Oh She Glows (photos are my own). Although this meal is super tasty and nourishing I will preface this by saying that it takes about 30mins to prep. If you think you’ll be short on time, I would suggest prepping a couple of the components the day before like the sweet potatoes and and cilantro avocado cream sauce. This should shave off about 20 minutes so you can get dinner on the table quicker.
What’s your favourite meal to make with sweet potatoes? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear about it.