Nutrition of a Sweet Potato & a White Potato

All potatoes are not created equal. While potatoes are generally categorized according to their skin color -- red, white, yellow -- they are also categorized according to flavor, the most prominent difference is between a sweet potato and a white potato.

Types of Sweet Potatoes

Over 400 types of sweet potatoes are grown around the world that range in color from pink to dark red on the outside and orange to yellow on the inside.

Types of White Potatoes

The most popular white potato in the U.S. is the Russet potato. White potatoes have skin that ranges from yellow to red and the inside color ranges from soft white to dark yellow.

Nutrition of Sweet Potatoes

The sweet potato is the most nutritious of all vegetables, based on dietary fiber, natural sugars and complex carbohydrates, protein, Vitamins A and C, iron and calcium.

Nutrition of White Potatoes

White potatoes are fat-free, low in sodium, and high in Vitamin C and fiber. White potatoes are also high in starch. White potatoes are ranked as the second most nutritious vegetable.

Serving Sizes

A single serving size of a potato is one small potato with the skin on, around the size of a small fist.

References

• SweetPotatoes.com
• Center for Science in the Public Interest