THE NOT SO LOWLY SWEET POTATO

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious foods in nature, and are relished by parrots of all ages for their sweet taste and fibrous texture. Eclectus require high fiber diets and sweet potatoes help to fill this need very nicely! They are relatively low in calories and have no fat. They are rich in beta-carotene, having five times the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A in one sweet potato (for people), as well as loaded with potassium. In humans, these nutrients help to protect against heart attack and stroke, and the potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells, as well as normal heart function and blood pressure. Wild Mexican "yams" which are related to the sweet potato, seem to have anti-weight gain, anti-cancer, and anti-aging properties, according to nutrition expert, Dr. Earl Mindell. True yams do not contain as much Vitamin A and C as sweet potatoes.

Here is a rundown on all the goodies contained in this favored food of our favorite birds. Values are based on one cup of boiled sweet potato:

• Calories 257.55 g
• Protein 5.1 g
• Fat 0.51 g
• Carbohydrates 59.16 g
• Fiber 8.2 g
• Calcium 76.5 g
• Iron 3.32 g
• Sodium 191.25 g
• Potassium 535.5 g
• Phosphorus 132.6 g
• Vitamin A 38571.3 IU
• Vitamin C 13.26 mg
• Thiamin 0.07 mg
• Riboflavin 0.23 mg
• Niacin 2.45 mg
• Cholesterol--ZERO

I feed sweet potatoes DAILY to my Eclectus flock, usually cooked in the beans/corn/brown rice *soak and cook* mix that I feed them. But variety being the spice of life, I like to give them different shapes and textures, so I bake them and boil them and cut them into sticks and cubes, and even make them into "puffs". Try some of the recipes on this page for your eclectus and I believe that they will give your efforts their "beak smacking squeals of approval"!