We have spent a long time as an industry defending the good name of the potato. Bombarded by fad diets and food trends not favorable to potatoes, the U.S. Potato Board (USPB) has invested in peeling back the truth on potatoes. We have pursued avenues to dispel myths and misconceptions, and it’s worked. Now it’s time to take the next step in changing the dialogue about potatoes. It’s time to start a fire and fan the flames surrounding how good potatoes are and to communicate—positively—why there is no substitute for potatoes in your diet.
The first step USPB took this fiscal year was to usher in the new school year by sharing an alphabet full of potato nutrition facts with national media. We distributed a press release titled “Potato Nutrition A to Z,” schooling consumers on the many benefits of potatoes. Results? The release was covered by 299 websites, reaching a potential audience of 96,457,446—making it one of the most successful USPB press releases ever. Highlights included the Wichita Business Journal, Health Business Blog and Health Exec Today. We’re definitely proud of the results of this first release, but take a look at the full list of nutrition benefits that piqued the interest of national media, shown below. There’s plenty for us to advocate potatoes in a daily diet!
Potato pop quiz! Are potatoes healthy? Yes! According to a National Eating Trends survey, potatoes are America’s favorite side dish, and that’s great news, America, because the potatoes you love are good for you, too.
Just in time for the back-to-school season, here is your A to Z guide on potato nutrition*:
Antioxidants. Potatoes contain antioxidants including vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. The amount and type are dependent on the potato variety. So make sure to include a number of different potato types (e.g., reds, purples, yellows, russets) in your diet.
Vitamin B6. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6, which is a nutrient that plays an important role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It helps turn the energy from food into energy your body can use.
Vitamin C. Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (45 percent of the recommended daily value). In fact, they have more vitamin C than one medium tomato (40 percent) or sweet potato (30 percent). Vitamin C plays a key role in the synthesis of collagen (important for healthy skin and gums) and may help support the body’s immune system.
Delicious. Potatoes are a blank canvas for hundreds of flavor combinations. Asian, Italian, American, German, Mediterranean…the possibilities are endless!
E-newsletter. Sign up today for a weekly potato recipe delivered to your email inbox each week: www.potatogoodness.com/e-weekly-recipe-email.
Fiber. One wholesome, satisfying potato contributes 2 grams of fiber to the diet, or 8 percent of the recommended daily value. Dietary fiber has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including improving blood lipid levels, regulating blood glucose, and increasing satiety (makes you feel full longer), which may help with weight loss.
Gluten-Free. Potatoes are naturally gluten-free. An ideal substitution for some of your favorite bread, grain and pasta-based dishes, potatoes add a boost of nutritional benefits, too.
Healthy. That’s right, potatoes can be part of a healthy diet. It’s the toppings that typically put spuds over the top in calories and fat. Try salsa, low-fat cheese and broccoli instead.
Glycemic Index. The GI of potatoes is highly variable depending on the variety, origin and preparation methods.
Confused? Don’t worry about it—both the 2010 and 2015 Dietary Guidelines committees concluded there is no evidence indicating the GI aids in weight loss or weight loss maintenance.
Just 110 calories. A medium potato with skin has just 110 calories. Keep them lean by simply roasting with olive oil, herbs and a pinch of salt.
K = potassium (periodic table, anyone?). Research suggests diets high in potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. Potatoes with skin are a good source of potassium.
Label. Look to the FDA-approved nutrition label for the all facts on potato nutrition!
Magnesium. A medium potato provides 48 milligrams of magnesium, and research indicates potatoes contribute 5 percent of the total magnesium intake in the diets of Americans. **
Nutrition facts: One medium potato has no fat, sodium or cholesterol. Just check out the FDA-approved nutrition label!
Oh, my goodness. Who doesn’t love the taste of potatoes? Expand your passion for potatoes even further with new types, cooking preparations and global spices.
Peel. The potato’s skin contains approximately half the total dietary fiber, but the majority of the nutrients are found within the potato itself.
Quick. Potatoes come in hundreds of shapes and sizes. Try the smaller varieties for a quick stove-top meal, and remember to use the microwave to speed the cook time of all your potato recipes.
Resistant starch is found naturally in potatoes and is a type of carbohydrate that is “resistant” to digestion by human digestive enzymes, just like dietary fiber. It also is believed to deliver similar health benefits to dietary fiber and has been shown in both human and animal studies to improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system.
Sweet potatoes vs. white potatoes. Both vegetables supply important nutrients. They are similar in their content of fiber, protein and vitamin B6. White potatoes pack the greater potassium punch (620 milligrams to 440); sweet potatoes lead the way in vitamin A (120 percent of the daily value). Both potatoes provide an excellent source of vitamin C (45 percent of the daily value for white potatoes and 30 percent of the daily value for sweet potatoes).
Types. Russets, reds, yellows, purples/blues, whites, fingerlings and petites. There’s a different type for every day of the week. Try them all!
USA. A vast majority of all potato farms in the U.S. are family-owned. From California to the Carolinas, families just like yours work hard year-round to nurture, grow and deliver potatoes from their farm to your local market.
Vegetable. That’s right, folks. Potatoes are a vegetable.
We have spent a long time as an industry defending the good name of the potato. Bombarded by fad diets and food trends not favorable to potatoes, the U.S. Potato Board (USPB) has invested in peeling back the truth on potatoes. We have pursued avenues to dispel myths and misconceptions, and it’s worked. Now it’s time to take the next step in changing the dialogue about potatoes. It’s time to start a fire and fan the flames surrounding how good potatoes are and to communicate—positively—why there is no substitute for potatoes in your diet.
The first step USPB took this fiscal year was to usher in the new school year by sharing an alphabet full of potato nutrition facts with national media. We distributed a press release titled “Potato Nutrition A to Z,” schooling consumers on the many benefits of potatoes. Results? The release was covered by 299 websites, reaching a potential audience of 96,457,446—making it one of the most successful USPB press releases ever. Highlights included the Wichita Business Journal, Health Business Blog and Health Exec Today. We’re definitely proud of the results of this first release, but take a look at the full list of nutrition benefits that piqued the interest of national media, shown below. There’s plenty for us to advocate potatoes in a daily diet!
Potato pop quiz! Are potatoes healthy? Yes! According to a National Eating Trends survey, potatoes are America’s favorite side dish, and that’s great news, America, because the potatoes you love are good for you, too.
Just in time for the back-to-school season, here is your A to Z guide on potato nutrition*:
A Antioxidants. Potatoes contain antioxidants including vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. The amount and type are dependent on the potato variety. So make sure to include a number of different potato types (e.g., reds, purples, yellows, russets) in your diet.
B Vitamin B6. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6, which is a nutrient that plays an important role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It helps turn the energy from food into energy your body can use.
C Vitamin C. Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (45 percent of the recommended daily value). In fact, they have more vitamin C than one medium tomato (40 percent) or sweet potato (30 percent). Vitamin C plays a key role in the synthesis of collagen (important for healthy skin and gums) and may help support the body’s immune system.
D Delicious. Potatoes are a blank canvas for hundreds of flavor combinations. Asian, Italian, American, German, Mediterranean…the possibilities are endless!
E E-newsletter. Sign up today for a weekly potato recipe delivered to your email inbox each week: www.potatogoodness.com/e-weekly-recipe-email.
F Fiber. One wholesome, satisfying potato contributes 2 grams of fiber to the diet, or 8 percent of the recommended daily value. Dietary fiber has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including improving blood lipid levels, regulating blood glucose, and increasing satiety (makes you feel full longer), which may help with weight loss.
G Gluten-Free. Potatoes are naturally gluten-free. An ideal substitution for some of your favorite bread, grain and pasta-based dishes, potatoes add a boost of nutritional benefits, too.
H Healthy. That’s right, potatoes can be part of a healthy diet. It’s the toppings that typically put spuds over the top in calories and fat. Try salsa, low-fat cheese and broccoli instead.
I Glycemic Index. The GI of potatoes is highly variable depending on the variety, origin and preparation methods. Confused? Don’t worry about it—both the 2010 and 2015 Dietary Guidelines committees concluded there is no evidence indicating the GI aids in weight loss or weight loss maintenance.
J Just 110 calories. A medium potato with skin has just 110 calories. Keep them lean by simply roasting with olive oil, herbs and a pinch of salt.
K K = potassium (periodic table, anyone?). Research suggests diets high in potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. Potatoes with skin are a good source of potassium.
L Label. Look to the FDA-approved nutrition label for the all facts on potato nutrition!
M Magnesium. A medium potato provides 48 milligrams of magnesium, and research indicates potatoes contribute 5 percent of the total magnesium intake in the diets of Americans. **
N Nutrition facts: One medium potato has no fat, sodium or cholesterol. Just check out the FDA-approved nutrition label!
Oh, my goodness. Who doesn’t love the taste of potatoes? Expand your passion for potatoes even further with new types, cooking preparations and global spices.
P Peel. The potato’s skin contains approximately half the total dietary fiber, but the majority of the nutrients are found within the potato itself.
Q Quick. Potatoes come in hundreds of shapes and sizes. Try the smaller varieties for a quick stove-top meal, and remember to use the microwave to speed the cook time of all your potato recipes.
R Resistant starch is found naturally in potatoes and is a type of carbohydrate that is “resistant” to digestion by human digestive enzymes, just like dietary fiber. It also is believed to deliver similar health benefits to dietary fiber and has been shown in both human and animal studies to improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system.
S Sweet potatoes vs. white potatoes. Both vegetables supply important nutrients. They are similar in their content of fiber, protein and vitamin B6. White potatoes pack the greater potassium punch (620 milligrams to 440); sweet potatoes lead the way in vitamin A (120 percent of the daily value). Both potatoes provide an excellent source of vitamin C (45 percent of the daily value for white potatoes and 30 percent of the daily value for sweet potatoes).
T Types. Russets, reds, yellows, purples/blues, whites, fingerlings and petites. There’s a different type for every day of the week. Try them all!
U USA. A vast majority of all potato farms in the U.S. are family-owned. From California to the Carolinas, families just like yours work hard year-round to nurture, grow and deliver potatoes from their farm to your local market.
V Vegetable. That’s right, folks. Potatoes are a vegetable.
W Weight Management. Research shows potatoes (when prepared healthfully) can be part of a weight loss plan.**
X Xcellent. Need we say more? Only two more letters to go and it’s pretty obvious potatoes are an excellent staple in our diet.
Y Yummy. According to consumers**, taste is everything. Tastes good and good for you? Potatoes are the superfood you’ve been dreaming about.
Z Zero. Did we mention zero sodium, fat or cholesterol?