Potatoes: The Real “Superfood”
If you’ve cut them out from your diet, you’re missing out.
First things first:
- There’s no such thing as superfoods
- You shouldn’t cut out certain food groups unless you’re allergic to them or simply don’t enjoy them
Alright, now that we got that over with, potatoes have gotten a bad rap. Mostly because of fries, or chips. Chain restaurants also don’t help clear out this misinformation when they list their starchy items in their menu along with “loaded.”
When people think of potatoes, they think starchy, thick, and fattening and so the general population stays away.
However, the truth is they are missing out on one of the most nutritious and filling foods on the planet. This is true even if you’re trying to lose weight.
Here’s the real problem: For most eaters, “potato” means the food items toward the right side of this handy chart:
Calling out potatoes for being fattening is like thinking the issue with creamed spinach is the spinach.
Here’s the thing: When you add lots of fat and salt to a potato, it can be really hard to stop eating it. This is due to the palatability of the food aka its deliciousness. So it’s not the actual potato making you gain weight in terms of fat loss, it’s the fact that you ate more than you probably should have because it was so good, which is normal and nothing to feel ashamed about.
(Here’s a fun test: Have a nice baked potato without any toppings — you’ll likely find it tasty and satisfying… but not irresistible.)
The continuum above provides a good guideline for incorporating potatoes into a healthy eating pattern. Including the fried kind because remember: all foods fit. There are just some that should be part of your diet most of the time while others not as often.
Not only are potatoes good but they’re also good for health. Check it out:
✅White potatoes are packed with healthful nutrients. They’re rich in vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin C, and a host of additional vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
✅ Nutritionally speaking, white potatoes are just as good as sweet potatoes. Yes, sweet potatoes have more vitamin A, but otherwise, it’s a virtual tie. Remember how there’s no such thing as “superfoods?” Yes, this goes for sweet potatoes, too. Both sweet and white potatoes are high in nutrients.
✅The carbs in potatoes are mostly resistant starch and fiber, which help you feel full-ideal for weight loss-and support gut health.
Key Takeaway
To enjoy potatoes as part of a health-conscious diet, separately portion out add-ons like butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon when possible. You might, for example, treat them more like you do other vegetables, such broccoli, and asparagus.
If you love potatoes, there’s no need to put them on some don’t-eat list. That’d be a real bummer. If you can live without them, then you don’t have to include them in your nutrition. However, it would be mindful of you to research other food to make up for the vitamins and minerals potatoes can provide for you.
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