Heres why I think potatoes deserve a spot on your plate, too.
I’m a dietitian, but my shopping cart is filled with more than kale and organic apples.
But there’s one vegetable that always makes the cutthe humble potato.
And not just sweet potatoes, which typically get lots of nutrition love.
I love all kinds of potatoes:purple, white, red and every color in between.
I’m not advocating eating more french fries (though they are delicious).
But potatoes go far beyond fries.
I’ve always loved potatoes.
Here’s why I never leave the grocery store without them.
Why I Love Potatoes
Potatoes Are Nutritious
Potatoes are more nutritious than you might think.
Potatoes are also considered acomplex carbohydratebecause they’re nutrient-rich and take longer to digest than simple carbs.
Being a starchy vegetable isn’t all bad.
Thankfully, potatoes are relatively inexpensive.
you could buy a 5-pound bag of potatoes for between $3 and $5.
That’s a lot of nutritional bang for your buck, especially compared to other fresh vegetables.
Potatoes even made our list of top picks forhealthy and cheap foods to buy.
There are so many different ways to enjoy potatoes.
There’s the classic baked potato, hash browns, mashed potatoes and roasted as a side dish.
They work well insoupsandcurries, or cooked up in theair fryer.
Potatoes are truly one of the most versatile vegetables you’ll find.
The Bottom Line
Eating a variety of vegetables is important for better health.
Every vegetable provides important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
It pains me when people shun potatoes as “empty carbs” or “too high in calories.”
Spuds are healthy and deserve some of the nutrition love we constantly lavish on other vegetables.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to make somemelting potatoes(yum!
