Is a Sweet Potato a Vegetable?

Sweet potatoes, edible roots from the morning glory family, are considered vegetables. Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber, have no fat, and are very high in vitamins A and C and potassium.

Commonly referred to as yams, true yams are actually from a different botanical group native to Africa. Sweet potatoes are native to the United States and were cultivated by Native Americans before settlers arrived. By the 16th century, they became widely cultivated in the southern United States and subsequently became an important part of southern cuisine. There are many different varieties of sweet potatoes cultivated throughout the world.