University of Illinois Extension
The great potato myth
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[March 02, 2023]
March is National Nutrition Month and what
better way to celebrate than by debunking the great potato myth! In
honor of all the Irish, or those who wish they were, we will talk
about the lowly, much maligned potato. |
Myth
#1: potatoes are fattening. In fact, potatoes are delicious and
nutritious! Potatoes are fat-free, cholesterol-free and a good
source of Vitamin B6 and dietary fiber. They are also high in
Potassium and Vitamin C.
Myth #2: Potatoes are just starch. These mighty tubers are much more
than “starch”. A medium baked potato provides us with 620 mg of
Potassium (that’s more than a banana) and 45% of your RDA of Vitamin
C. How’s that for you “dieters”? If that’s not enough, they are
gluten free. They also contain iron!
The French were on to something when they called
potatoes, pomme de terre or “apple of the earth”. These wonderful
gifts of the soil are a nutritional powerhouse when cooked properly
and eaten as part of a balanced diet. [to top of second
column] |
Now for the bad news—frying potatoes cancels out
nearly all of the good. So, fries are for “sometimes” and baked
potatoes are for “everyday”. Baked potatoes give you all of the
aforementioned nutrients with the added bonus of filling you up, the
satiety factor. If you eat your baked potato with low-fat sour
cream, you are eating a 155 calorie healthy side dish. Next time you
tell the waitress to “skip the potato”, think again and do yourself
a favor by ordering the potato!
Nutritional data from: http://www.idahopotato.com
[Mary Liz Wright, University of Illinois
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness] |