Back To Your Roots by Kath Younger

With summertime comes cookouts, neighborhood street parties, Fourth of July BBQs and simple Saturday afternoon affairs, complete with burgers, dogs and fries. If you're striving to eat healthy, it can be a challenge to make good choices. One rule to abide by to help you find your healthy way: eat real food.

Go back to your roots!

Sweet potatoes aren't just a winter vegetable, here in North Carolina they are available all year round. Ensure you have a healthy dish at the BBQ by bringing along a pot luck side made with sweet potatoes.

Some cool ideas for hot days include:

• Sweet potato salad. Bake sweet potato cubes and dress with plain Greek yogurt and herbs for an orangey twist on typical mayonnaise-based potato salad.

• Grill sweet potato fries! Push your grill master aside and plop some sweet potato sticks on the grill for a nutrient-dense side dish to go with burgers.

• Try a grain and potato salad for your next pot luck. Cook a grain like millet or quinoa and toss with baked sweet potatoes cubes, summer vegetables like corn, tomato and bell pepper and drizzles with your favorite salad dressing.

• Bake sweet potatoes into a summer gratin. Layer thinly sliced sweet potatoes with breadcrumbs (whole wheat!), grated parmesan cheese and fresh summer squash. Top with freshly chopped basil.

• Toss together a sweet potato and lentil salad. Cook sweet potatoes until tender and a batch of lentils. Toss together with walnuts, dates and a homemade maple dressing. Serve over baby spinach.

• On those long days of summer, take a stab at sweet potato gnocchi. Use sweet potatoes instead of white and whole wheat flour to make a healthier version of the heavy Italian classic.

• When it's too hot to turn on the stove, make a sandwich with mashed sweet potato and walnuts on whole grain bread. Serve with a cool side salad. Or go ahead and just top a salad with some leftover roasted sweet potatoes.

Be the one to show up with the most delicious and nutritious dish at the party,
I'm rooting for you!