Your Weight Loss Program and Potatoes

June 7, 2008 | By NRP In Nutrition, Weight Loss |

Potatoes can be one of your biggest allies in your weight loss program if you learn about them and everything they have to offer you.

This amazing vegetable is one of the most popular in America. Its popularity even surpasses lettuce and onions. Many people never get tired of eating this food because it can be fixed in so many different ways. About one third of the meals eaten by Americans include this veggie in some form.

One great thing about the spud is that it adds the bulk to your meal that lets you know you’ve eaten something and when stored and prepared properly the potato packs a very nutritional punch.

Spuds are high in fiber, carbohydrates, contain more potassium than a banana and one medium sized potato contains about 45% of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C that’s recommended for good health.

A potato is naturally low in calories and contains no fat, sodium, or cholesterol. Potato skin provides a helpful dose of fiber, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and several B vitamins.

This vegetable is best and it retains more of its natural nutrition when stored in a cool, dark place such as a basement or cellar. Too much light in your storage area may result in green potatoes. Refrigeration or freezing should be avoided when possible because the starch is turned to sugar by the cold and that causes them to turn dark when cooked.

You can prepare potatoes by boiling them, steaming them, or even roasting them. If at all possible, you should avoid putting your spuds in the refrigerator or freezing them, as cold will turn the potato starch to sugar and cause them to turn dark when they are cooked.

Mashed, baked, fried, boiled and broiled are a few of the ways this amazing vegetable can be prepared. The calories you get from eating potatoes come more from the toppings you add than the veggie itself.

Piling on the sour cream, chives, bacon bits, chili, cheese or butter adds up a LOT of calories you don’t want or need BUT taking a cut up spud and baking it with French dressing creates a very tasty side dish that’s easy on calories and very filling.

In my opinion, every weight loss program should include potatoes as a part of the menu.

2007-2008 Copyright by the Natural Remedies Products Staff a.k.a. NRP - Your Weight Loss Program and Potatoes