PALEO SWEET SWEET POTATO PECAN BOWL

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No, there's not a typo in the title:) This is a sweet sweet potato delight. I was craving a sweet snack, and my mind drifted to a baked sweet potato I had in the fridge. Although I'm a huge fan of oats or pancakes, sometimes reaching for carbs in a fruit or vegetable is a way to maximize our nutrient intake! And if you're following a paleo or grain free diet, this is a great substitute for oats!

Although I had this as a snack, it was SO filling - I had to eat part of it later, and you could easily double if you wanted to make it into a meal. 

If you love the sweet potato praline dish everyone serves at Thanksgiving, here is a Paleo/ Whole30 version to knock your socks off! 

INGREDIENTS:

1/2-3/4 cup baked sweet potato
1-3 T almond or other plant-based milk
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla
1-2 scoops Vital Protein (use 2T if you are making as a meal)
1 T coconut oil
tiny pinch of salt (optional, some people prefer sweet with just a little bit of salt)
sweetener options: 1/3 banana, or 1/2-1 T coconut sugar
***if you're trying to make this as healthy as possible, reach for the banana!
Topping ideas: Georgia Grinders pecan butter (I promise you it is absolutely worth the $11 haha), dark chocolate (I love eating evolved) or a protein/fat/bliss ball, like my chocolate chip one here (recipe to come soon!)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients (except toppings) together in a blender, I love my Vitamix! You may need to stop and scrape the mixture back down a few times. Using a spatula, scoop into a bowl. Top with pecan butter (gives it that Thanksgiving dish flavor!) or a handful of pecans, dark chocolate, or any other toppings you desire!

Why not just make this into a smoothie? For me, I find that I can often feel unsatisfied after a smoothie, yet I've consumed a large number of calories. Eating spoonfuls of something thicker with texture helps me to feel fuller longer (and chewing sends satiety signals to the brain).

NUTRITION NERD FACTS:

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, the form of Vitamin A that comes from plants (1). They are also a great place to get Vitamin C, manganese, copper, potassium, B vitamins, biotin, fiber, and phosphorous. They are rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and may help stabilize blood sugar levels (while still tasting deliciously sweet!) 

SOURCES:
1) http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64