Ode to the Humble Potato
Posted August 25th, 2010
Opinion by Geanna Marek, Working Owner
Low-carbohydrate diets come and go like the wind; Hollywood’s diet books from yesterday will be thrown out with tomorrow morning’s trash. Certain key ingredients will have a starring role for at least a month (acai and coconut water are the current stars, for example), only to be replaced with an unknown one next month. Of course, the key amidst all this hubbub is to maintain a consistent diet with low calories, supplemented by an active lifestyle.
As a result of the almost schizophrenic-style of obsession this country has with eating and health, simple, staple foods that our relatives and ancestors swore by in generations past are lost in the mix. Between big fad diets, they are recognized once again for their nutritional value, but during the current BIG TREND, they are tossed away into the back of the fridge, only to grow old and moldy and eventually thrown out.
Today, I’m referring specifically to the classic sturdy vegetable: the potato. Because they have a high glycemic rate, they are not necessarily good on a regular basis, especially for those with diabetes, but they DO offer significant levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Potassium. Eating them with the skin on offers levels of fiber comparable to that of whole grains and beans. Of course, eating them in fast food as French fries or processed hash browns has sullied their reputation a bit, but there are plenty of other, and much healthier ways to eat them.
Pick up some tots at the Co-op on sale for the rest of August from Cascadian Farms; only $2.49 for a 16 oz. bag. Or even better- give our locally grown Russet Potatoes a shot- on sale this week in produce for only $.99/lb!
Baked potatoes are delicious on a cold day, but they are also time-consuming. Try this shortcut recipe with tater tots for a quick meal.
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