Peel & cut boiled potatoes in bite size pieces
What is a potato?
The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum, and is a root vegetable native to the Americas.
The potato plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile.
What part of a potato plant is eaten?
A potato is a vegetable. It is a small plant with large leaves. The part of the potato that people eat is a tuber that grows under the ground.
What is so nutritious in potatoes?
In addition to starch, potatoes contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They’re rich in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Potatoes were a life-saving food source in early times because vitamin C prevented scurvy.
Another major nutrient in potatoes is potassium, an electrolyte that aids in the workings of our heart, muscles, and nervous system. Potato skin contains fiber, which is important for digestive health.
Different types of potatoes, especially those that come in other colors, contain more nutrients that have health benefits. In general, the darker the potato, the more antioxidants it contains.
What makes potatoes unhealthy?
Generally, potatoes move into the less than healthy category when they are loaded with toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and bacon.
When you are mindful of both portion size and toppings, potatoes can provide comfort and satisfaction with any meal.