The Potato, an Excellent Dietary Choice for Today's Health Conscious Consumer
An Interview with a Potato
Yet, there's a lot more to the potato than meets the eye. Check out what may be the first-ever Interview with a Potato. Everything you wanted to know about the origins and health benefits of the potato, but were afraid to ask.
Q-Do you have time to talk?
A-Whatever. I'm a potato. Not much to do other than wait for someone to take me home for supper. Dish away.
Q-Where did your ancestors originate?
A-Potatoes are believed to be native to the Americas. The origins of the potato can be traced to Peru and south-central Chile.
Q-You're not from Ireland?
A-Sorry to disappoint you. Potatoes didn't catch on with the Europeans until the 16th century or so when Spain introduced them in Europe. After that, seafarers took potatoes with them on their voyages to port cities all over the world. The rest, as they say, is history.
Q-Where does the potato famine come into the picture?
A-The potato became a staple on European tables and potatoes were highly cultivated the world over. But, very few varieties were grown on the European Continent in those early days which left the potato crop vulnerable to disease. In the mid-1800s, blight spread across Europe and into western Ireland where a particular variety of potato was especially vulnerable to blight and disease. This caused the Great Irish Famine that killed a quarter of the Irish people.
Q-How did potatoes catch on in the New World?
A-With immigration came potatoes. Potatoes were planted in Idaho as early as 1838, if you can believe. The great majority of potatoes in the United States today originate in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Maine. To this day, potatoes are headliners, in the kitchen, on the dinner table, and in restaurants around the country. Caught on? We're read hot! Potatoes have even been the main event on the hit reality show on Bravo, Top Chef.
Q-About how many potatoes are consumed in the world today, per capita?
A-The United Nations reports that 314 million tons of potatoes are harvested and sold each year and that the "average global citizen," whatever that means, eats about 73 lbs. of potatoes each year. Hard to believe, isn't it?
Q-Wow! That's a lot of potatoes!
A-You're telling me?
Q-How are potatoes cooked?
A-Potatoes can be mashed, baked, peeled and unpeeled, sliced, diced, you name it. Potatoes can be fried, boiled and eaten hot or cold. You name it and you can probably do it to a potato.
Q-Where does the potato gets its unhealthy rep?
A-I have no idea. It's really unfair. Potatoes are great, healthy diet choices, loaded with vitamins and minerals. Potatoes are relatively inexpensive to buy and much cheaper than dietary supplements.
Q-What's the difference between regular potatoes and, say, organic or heirloom varieties?
A-No pesticides?
Q-Should we buy organic for additional health benefits?
A-Sure, if you have the money. Otherwise, any potato will do. Potatoes have health benefits too important to ignore and potatoes are now prized for their disease-fighting properties.
Q-Anything you want to say about Mr. Potato Head, for the record that is?
A-I heard from a reliable source in the vegetable bin that Mr. Potato Head was the very first toy ever advertised on television. I like to think it was because of the global popularity of the potato that Mr. Potato Head was a big seller for Hasbro.
Q-You're kidding!
A-I kid you not.
Q-Anything else you want to say to the many potato fans out there?
A-Sure. The potato has a softer, creative side as well. Did you know that artists (not to mention thousands of school children each year) have long used the raw potato to make shapes and forms? And, some of the greatest artists alive have also featured potatoes and potato crops in their paintings. I'm very proud about that.
RESOURCES
Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.com
National Institutes of Health
www.nih.gov
Official Website of the Idaho Potato
http://idahopotato.com
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Published by M.G. Hardiman - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Career professional in non-profit sector, one of AC s Rising Stars (2009) and Featured Contributor in Home Improvement, Health and Wellness, Local, and Arts and Entertainment categories. Washington, DC metr... View profile
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- To preserve a potato's healthy benefits, cook with skins on whenever possible.
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