Sweet Potato Fest!

Sweet potatoes are sneaky. They hide beneath the soil under vines that bloom like morning glories. They are shape shifters in recipes, and can be used in everything from deserts to salads, soups to sushi, burgers to bread. They seem like junk food in French fries and pie, but are packed with potassium, vitamin A, and beta-carotene. When cooked correctly, sweet potatoes are healthier than broccoli or spinach.

Edible Schoolyard New Orleans can be sneaky too. We throw an event like Sweet Potato Fest (which was Saturday, November 2, at Arthur Ashe Charter School) and at first glance it looks like it’s all fun and games: kids frolicking in the dirt, discovering not only 8-pound sweet potatoes but frogs and worms and butterflies; siblings helping each other roll dough for their sweet potato pizzas, complete with pesto made with basil from the garden; sack races; spoon relays; jams blasting from a speaker in the back of a truck; and at the end of the day everybody walking away with goodie bags and sacks of potatoes and smiles.

But we have our ways. While celebrating this seasonal food, Sweet Potato Fest also had a health and wellness slant. What tasted like a milkshake was a nutrient-packed smoothie. The sachet that looked and smelled better than potpourri actually uplifted the mood and calmed the nerves, because it was aromatherapy. And while families played games and made pizzas and tasted Satsumas and got massages at the event, they also received health screenings and pedometers and flu shots, learned how to reduce stress, exercised with a yoga mat and a shovel, and helped us harvest 311 pounds of potatoes.

So I guess Sweet Potato Fest accurately reflects the sneaky essence of its signature vegetable; under a veneer of sugary delight, it packs a healthy punch. We hope to see you next year! Don't forget to check out ESYNOLA's Facebook page.