June 20th, 2024

Potatoes Are the Perfect Vegetable–But You're Eating Them Wrong

Potato consumption in the US has dropped by 30%, favoring frozen over fresh options. Debates arise on reclassifying potatoes as a vegetable, impacting health and nutrition. Despite being nutrient-rich, concerns persist over unhealthy associations with deep-fried products. Challenges in breeding productive varieties for climate change and disease are noted, highlighting the historical importance of potatoes.

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Potatoes Are the Perfect Vegetable–But You're Eating Them Wrong

The article discusses the decline in potato consumption in the United States, with Americans now eating 30% fewer potatoes than in the past, opting for frozen varieties over fresh ones. The shift has led to debates about reclassifying potatoes as a vegetable and concerns about the impact on health and nutrition. Despite being a nutrient-dense food rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and protein, potatoes have faced criticism for their association with unhealthy eating habits, particularly due to the popularity of deep-fried products like french fries. The frozen potato industry's influence on potato cultivation and consumption patterns has also been highlighted, with a focus on specific potato varieties suited for processing. Additionally, challenges in breeding more productive potato varieties to meet the demands of a changing climate and new diseases have been discussed. The article concludes by emphasizing the historical significance of potatoes in human civilization and the need to navigate a path forward for the humble spud amidst evolving dietary trends and agricultural practices.

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By @hooverd - 5 months
Potatoes have superior potassium. I wish you could get more varieties than white, yellow, and red. I've seen purple potatoes but never by themselves. Also you should eat the skins.
By @11235813213455 - 5 months
Boiled potatoes are the most satiating food. I met a person saying her doctor didn't recommend it with her diabete, I find this strange, even if there are starch, you feel so full after eating a few potatoes there's no risk

Least satiating food are croissants, 7x less than potatoes

By @RoadRageRyan - 5 months
By @klondike_klive - 5 months
A few times I tried eating only steamed white potatoes for a few days, it appealed to my all-or-nothing mentality (and desire to reduce mental overhead in choosing what to eat). Inspired by this https://potatohack.com It was about eight years ago. I didn't get tired of potatoes. It was cheap. If I remember correctly I spiced things up by making chicken broth into gravy by mixing in potato starch.
By @GEBBL - 5 months
A hape ‘a spuds with a slatherin of real butter is hard til bate,bai!
By @brcmthrowaway - 5 months
Whats the TLDR of this article?