The sweet, orange-colored root vegetable that is often thought of as a yam in the United States is actually a sweet potato. Yams purchased in the United States are almost always sweet potatoes. Some refer to Sweet Potatoes as a super food because of their nutritional value–they're very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, and are an excellent source of potassium, fiber, and vitamins B6 and C.

Sweet Potatoes are also an extremely versatile vegetable. They can be baked, roasted, fried, grilled, boiled, mashed or grated. Make sweet potato biscuits, stuffing, soup, pie, casserole. Or you can sweeten them by baking and adding a little butter or maple syrup, and topping them off with some brown sugar. Look for sweet potatoes that are firm and do not have bruises, soft spots or cracks. Store in a cool dry place and do not refrigerate, as cold temperatures alter the flavor and shorten the shelf life.