My Thoughts on Baked Potatoes
My new food for the month of March is baked potatoes. I currently eat and like potato chips and french fries but tend to like the crispier, crunchier fries and avoid the thicker, mushier fries. So for me trying a baked potato this month is more about adjusting to texture than to taste. My impression of potatoes is that they are starchy and mushy. I have seen potatoes described as creamy, maybe this applies better for mashed potatoes, but I didn’t think the baked potatoes I tried were very creamy. Not my favorite texture but I certainly recognize the taste. I did add a little bit of butter and salt when I tried them to add a little extra flavor. Now I will have to try them in some of their other forms, sweet potato, mashed potato, home fries, etc. Although I still like my french fries and they certainly taste better, baked potatoes are definitely healthier.
Health Benefits of Baked Potatoes
When researching baked potatoes I have found varying reviews. Some people say it is very healthy food and others say you should keep it out of your diet. From what I can tell the baked potato by itself is perfectly healthy and a good addition to your diet. It is when it is loaded with lots of other tasty and fatty ingredients or fried that it becomes a high calorie carb that you would want to look out for.
As for the health benefits of baked potatoes, if you take away the extra fat and deep frying, it is healthy low calorie, high fiber food that offers significant protection against cardiovascular disease and cancer. Potatoes can have a phenolic content that rivals that of broccoli, spinach and brussels sprouts, and includes flavonoids with protective activity against cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and certain cancers. UK scientists at the Institute for Food Research have identified blood pressure-lowering compounds called kukoamines in potatoes. Potatoes are also a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, dietary fiber, and pantothenic acid.