African American Holiday Traditions

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

Yes, but if you HAVE to have sweet potato casserole, like my family does, a (much) lower calorie option is ideal. Everyone is always surprised when I say there's no brown sugar and that the meringue is just as good as sticky sweet marshmallows (I pick them off if someone else makes it with them). I'm perfectly happy eating my sweet potatoes with a 1/2 teaspoon of honey when I make them for my own dinner, or even plain if needed. I dont even think I've ever had sweet potato pie, not that I wouldn't try it, but it doesn't scream healthy. Portions are everything!

Yeah and the average Black holiday gathering will have sweet potato pie (or even cornbread with sliced and seasoned sweet potatoes--my favorite) and not a sweet potato casserole. However, sweet potato casserole will not be scoffed at as long as it clearly has sweet potatoes and is seasoned like a traditional sweet potato dish.

Originally Posted by IrishLake

(Says the pregnant woman who had two large servings of mashed potatoes and noodles on Thanksgiving... lol)

There's nothing wrong with that.

Oh yeah...I rarely eat mashed potatoes at a holiday gathering. That's a last resort side dish for both my and my significant other's families. If someone cooks it, we will eat it only after the other side dishes are devoured. If you give me deviled eggs and potato salad, you can cancel the mashed potatoes.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Marshmallows do not belong on sweet potatoes, anyway.

Seriously. Sweet potato casserole should have a great crust of brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts and the like on top.

Yeah, I know.

I'm not a big sweet potato fan -- it's only the brown sugar, cinnamon and the other bad for you stuff that makes it taste good to me. But I do understand exactly what you're saying.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Seriously. Sweet potato casserole should have a great crust of brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts and the like on top.

Yeah, I know.

I'm not a big sweet potato fan -- it's only the brown sugar, cinnamon and the other bad for you stuff that makes it taste good to me. But I do understand exactly what you're saying.

I think that's why a lot of people eat particular sweet potato dishes in the cultures that I am most familiar with. LOL.

Of course, sweet potatoes are eaten different ways across the country and around the world.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Seriously. Sweet potato casserole should have a great crust of brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts and the like on top.

Yeah, I know.

I'm not a big sweet potato fan -- it's only the brown sugar, cinnamon and the other bad for you stuff that makes it taste good to me. But I do understand exactly what you're saying.

Again, MC has it right! I forget which restaurant serves "praline yams" but they are just so yummy!

I'm not a diabetic, but I play one on tv... Seriously, with the eye problems in my family, I would be foolish not to watch out for diabetes, so I take my sugar a few times a week, more or a baseline or such.

That said, I've noticed that if I eat a yam (which I love) or a sweet potato (not so much), my sugar goes through the roof! This is just plain, baked potatoes. Has anyone else noticed this?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Again, MC has it right! I forget which restaurant serves "praline yams" but they are just so yummy!

LOL. What does MysticCat have right?

I like sweet potatoes more than yams. Most people have never had yams and don't really know the difference between yams and sweet potatoes.

Originally Posted by honeychile

That said, I've noticed that if I eat a yam (which I love) or a sweet potato (not so much), my sugar goes through the roof! This is just plain, baked potatoes. Has anyone else noticed this?

That is why some family doctors, pastors, and "community members" are advising "the Black community" to either stay away from sweet potatoes (and yams) or only eat it in small servings during a holiday.