Popular in the Southern United States, particularly during the holidays, sweet potato pie is a classic comfort food that also provides wholesome nutrition. Sweet potatoes contain antioxidants and are rich in fiber. However, sweet potato pie contains extra fat and calories and is best enjoyed in moderation.
Ingredients
Many pie crusts, whether commercially prepared or homemade, contain four basic ingredients: flour, salt, cold water and shortening or butter. Sweet potato pie filling consists of mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, margarine or butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Recipes do vary, so check the ingredients list if you have specific dietary restrictions or allergies to milk, eggs or wheat.
Calories and Fat
As with most baked goods, the exact amount of fat and calories depends on the specific recipe used. On average, one 125 g slice of sweet potato pie contains 18 g of fat and 380 calories, with 160 calories coming directly from fat.
Portion control is important. Some commercially prepared pies contain nine servings. However, most pies are sliced into eight pieces, which means that you are actually consuming more than one serving if you eat one slice of a pie that has been cut into eight pieces.
Nutrients
A slice of sweet potato pie contains up to 130 percent of the vitamin A recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture each day. It also contains 6 percent of the vitamin C and iron recommended as well as 15 percent of the recommended amount of calcium.
Food Pyramid
The USDA recommends most adults should consume between 2 1/2 and 3 cups of vegetables each day. One slice of sweet potato pie counts as 1/4 cup of orange vegetables. Adults should also consume the equivalent of 3 cups of dairy. A single slice of sweet potato pie contributes up to 1/2 cup of dairy.
Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes
Available year-round, sweet potatoes are a rich source of beta carotene and vitamin C. According to North Carolina State University, these two nutrients act as antioxidants to eliminate the free radicals that cause damage to cells. These antioxidants help prevent conditions such as artherosclerosis and colon cancer.
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