Food of the Week: Potatoes

For this week's food of the week I've decided to break down some misconceptions about a food that has gotten a bad rap in recent years. Carbohydrates have sadly become the food to avoid or reduce in our diets. But, as you can see in my last post, carbs can play an integral part in eating on a budget. While there are very unhealthy carbs, this doesn't mean that all are bad. So, here it comes, the food of the week is potatoes.

Benefits:

• Very good source of Vitamin C, which we all know is good for the immune system.
  
• Good source of Potassium, Copper, Manganese and dietary fiber. Help to prevent cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and some cancers.
  
• Good source of Vitamin B6, which is good for the nervous system, helping us sleep, manage stress and be less depressed.
  
• Low in calories.

Drawbacks:

• Many of the ways we tend to eat potatoes (ie french fries, potato chips, etc) are loaded with fat.
• Potatoes are abundant and therefore budget friendly.
  

Ways to eat potatoes:

• I got this idea from a Tibetan restaurant here in NYC. Sauté small chunks of potatoes with greens and chicken in soy sauce. Flavor with garlic and ginger.
• A favorite for brunch, sauté cut up potatoes with onions, green peppers and garlic.
• Mashed potatoes! Possibly the best food in the world!

Little known facts:

• Potatoes have been grown in space.
• Potatoes can be used to help relieve global hunger due to their abundance and ability to grow in harsh climates.

So don't you fret, little darlings! Eat potatoes and be happy!

Carbs are our friends

The current market slump our country is going through is not new. Unpleasant for many but not new. During this time of scrimping and saving where we can, looking back to hard times of the past can teach us a lot. See this video of a woman sharing a recipe that helped get her family through the Great Depression.

So stop hating on the carbs people! They can get us through some hard times.