Here’s why you should try the 2024 veggie of the year: purple sweet potato

It’s delicious, nutritious and a veggie that adds an impressive pop of colour to every meal. It’s no wonder the purple sweet potato has been crowned Vegetable of the Year for 2024.  

Google searches for topics related to ‘purple sweet potato’ are on the rise, initially spiking after the recent release of the Netflix documentary ‘Secrets of the Blue Zones’. The series focused on areas of the world in which people live exceptionally long lives, known as the ‘Blue Zones,’ and discussed the violet-coloured veggies links to longevity.  

The secret of Okinawan’s longevity: purple sweet potato 

The vibrant purple tubers are a staple in the Okinawan diet, one of the 5 Blue Zones, and have become an important part of the culture. The vegetable is rich in anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant that gives it the deep purple colour as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Because inflammation plays a role in a number of chronic diseases, these compounds may have the potential to help protect against age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer.  Because inflammation plays a role in a number of chronic diseases, these compounds may have the potential to help protect against age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer.  

Purple sweet potatoes are also a good source of fibre, as well as potassium which can help lower blood pressure, and vitamin C, to help support a healthy immune system.  

About 60 percent of calories of a traditional Okinawan diet comes from sweet potatoes with the rest of the diet emphasising other vegetables and soy products alongside low GI carbohydrates, some fish and only minimal amounts of meat.  Much of the longevity advantage in Okinawa is thought to be related to this traditional diet.  

The goodness of the whole sweet potato family 

If you don’t have access to purple sweet potatoes, don’t stress, there are many other varieties more readily available around the world that offer wonderful nutritional benefits. 

Sweet potatoes of all colours - purple, reddish purple, orange, white, cream - offer a range of nutrients similar to the purple sweet potato like vitamin A, B and C, potassium and fibre.  

While the purple sweet potato’s violet hue offers the antioxidant anthocyanins, the orange sweet potato is richest in beta-carotene that similarly plays a role in overall health and disease prevention. The white sweet potato is less sweet and can be more easily switched for the standard potato.  

When picking your sweet potatoes in the supermarket look for the versions that are most vibrant in colour for as many nutritional benefits as possible.  

Looking for inspiration to cook these nutritional powerhouses?

Download our new Vegetarian cookbook Easy Eats that features recipes like eggplant and sweet potato dahl or check out our collection for more sweet potato recipes.