Potato Patch Recipes
Potato Nutrition And Vitamins

A simple to understand picture that will explain the nutritional value of a potato.  It will also show you the vitamins that are contained in a potato.  Lots of people are interested in what makes up the nutrition in a potato, so I thought I would post this picture to help explain the exact nutrition and vitamin value of the potato.

As you can see the potato is actually a very nutritional vegetable.  It contains lots of fiber, vitamins and minerals.  The potatoes nutritional value is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the culinary world.  The calories contained in a potato can actually help to keep people from starving in third world countries.

• The potato is a good source of dietary energy and some micronutrients, and its protein content is very high in comparison with other roots and tubers.
• The potato is low in fat–but preparing and serving potatoes with high fat ingredients raises the caloric value of the dish.
• Boiling potatoes in their skins prevent loss of nutrients.
• Potatoes are important in many diets, but need to be balanced with other vegetables and whole grain foods.

Potato’s role in the developing world’s “nutrition transition”

In many developing countries, and especially in urban areas, rising levels of income are driving a “nutrition transition” toward more energy-dense foods and prepared food products. As part of that transition, demand for potato is increasing. In South Africa, potato consumption has been growing in urban areas, while in rural areas maize is still the staple. In China, higher income and increased urbanization have led to increased demand for processed potatoes. Thus, the potato already plays a role in diet diversification in many countries. However, where other staple crops are available to meet energy requirements, potato should not replace them but rather supplement the diet with its vitamins and mineral content and high quality protein. Potatoes can be important staple foods, but balanced diets need to include other vegetables and whole grain foods.

As part of the trend toward greater consumption of “convenience foods”, demand for fried potatoes is increasing. Over-consumption of these high-energy products, along with reduced physical activity, can lead to overweight. Therefore the role of fried potato products in the diet must be taken into consideration in efforts to prevent overweight and diet related non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

This is part of a fact sheet that was prepared by Sylvana Prokop for FAO’s Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division.

A good site to get Health Tips related To Food is at the Healthy Foodish site. 

More Potato Nutrition, Calories and Information:

• A Potato Primer:  Selection and Storage
• Potatoes|Information, History, and Trivia

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Ingredient tags: calories, facts, minerals, nutrition, potato information, trivia, vitamins