Did you know that there are over 100 different varieties of potatoes? You know of russet potatoes, fingerling potatoes, yukon gold, and my favorite- sweet potatoes. We only see a small collection of potatoes in the store and to be honest, I am not sure where the others are. Depending on where you are right now and timing of the month, potatoes are starting to come into their prime season!
According to the Encyclopedia of Healing Foods (a must have in your house), Americans consume more potatoes, pound for pound, than any other vegetable! That is a lot! SO, what exactly are the benefits, if any? Since Americans, my family included, eat so much, I decided to look into the nutrition facts of these things.
The good news:
High in potassium
High in Vitamins B6 and C
High in fiber
*Low in calories
The bad news:
Most of those nutrients are found in the skin, so if you are always peeling your potatoes, you could be missing out on some important essentials.
*Depending on how potatoes are made they are low in calorie. If they are deep fried, smothered in cheese, sour cream, turned into potato chips, or even hash browns, I am sorry to say the low calorie plus goes out the door.
Here are some tips on storing potatoes:
1. Don’t store potatoes in the refrigerator. It causes the starch to turn to sugar to fast making the potatoes taste gross.
2. Storing potatoes and onions together will cause the potatoes to turn bad quicker. If possible, separate to store longer.
3. If stored properly, potatoes can last for about 2 months.
How do I like to cook them?
First, get a good potato scrubber like this one which I use all the time, especially on my root vegetables.
DO NOT peel it… remember that all the good for you things are in the peel.
– For French fries at home, cut into thin ‘fry’ shapes, toss with just a little melted coconut oil and lay flat on a cookie sheet. Roast at 400 for 20 minutes. Turn over and roast for another 15 minutes or until done.
– Roast them in the oven with other root veggies like carrots or parsnips. Same as the French fries method as above. However, explore with your favorite seasonings.
How do you like to eat your potatoes?
Potatoes can get a bad rep but it is more in how you prepare them. They are a great addition to your diet and provide loads of fiber as I already mentioned, so don’t skip them. Just be sure to keep the high fat add-ons in moderation.
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