Sweet potato is  large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots and also a root vegetable.

Besides simple starches, raw sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber and beta-carotene (a provitamin A carotenoid), while having moderate contents of other micronutrients, including vitamin B₅, vitamin B₆ and manganese.

Sweet potato provides less edible energy and protein per unit weight than cereals, it has higher nutrient density than cereals.