

Potatoes
Potatoes were in the news because of a new Harvard study that showed they can be fattening. However, potatoes are the highest satiety food when prepared as “skinny” meaning without added fat.
We took a look at a variety of potato foods in the grocery store and we were surprised that there are a lot of potato foods that are processed and high in fat. Here is the scoop - from the best scenario to the worst:
Calories Per 5 Ounces:
Lowfat mashed 106
Boiled 121
Baked 131
Stuffed 165
Potato salad 202
Hash browns 379
French fries 447
Potato Chips 750
Fun comparisons:
Calories Per 5 Ounces:
Chef salad 124
Hamburger 357
Apple pie 500
Cheesecake 541
Obviously the boiled potatoes and the mashed potatoes that use lowfat ingredients are the very best choices. Baked are a great choice, too, as long as you pick the right toppings. Potato chips surprised us but then again they are thin slices of potatoes that are fried so you are probably eating more oil than potato. And who can eat just one? We used the 5 ounce serving to compare the calorie density on each dish. Plus 5 ounces is a little less than half of a bag so it would not be that outrageous to eat that many while watching TV.
The biggest surprise? You would do better to eat a 5 ounce slice of cheesecake versus 5 ounces of potato chips! But the lowfat mashed potatoes are low in calories than a chef salad.
Our suggestion?
Fill a potato with steamed broccoli and top with a little Parmesan cheese.
Visit http://www.healthypotato.com/ or http://foodandhealth.com/recipes.php for more potato ideas.
Potato Guide
Russet
The classic baked potato. High in starch; light and fluffy when cooked; great for baking, mashing, and roasting.
Fingerlings
Finger-sized potatoes that are firm and come in different colors—red, gold, yellow and purple. These make wonder- ful boiled or roasted potato dishes.
White
These are the most versatile potato for any dish. They are medium in starch level and have a creamy texture.
Yellow
These potatoes look like they are buttered because of their yellow color and they are deli- cious when roasted, baked or mashed.
Red
Rosy red skin and white flesh. Well suited for salads, roasting, boiling and steaming. Round reds are often referred to as “new potatoes.”
Blue
Originated in South America; now popular in the U.S. Subtle, nutty flavor and flesh ranging from dark blue or lavender to white. Microwaving best pre- serves color, but steaming and baking are also recommended.
Source: healthypotato.com
Stephanie Ronco has been editing for Food and Health Communications since 2011. She graduated from Colorado College magna cum laude with distinction in Comparative Literature. She was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 2008.