Potatoes are mainstays in our kitchen. We never run out of them in our pantry. They’re in our list of essentials and must-haves.
Our family lives and breathes potatoes, no kidding!
When it comes to this house-favorite vegetable, we go for top-quality U.S. potatoes because they are nutritious, delicious, versatile, easily available, and affordable. Having them in the kitchen in times when work responsibilities and homeschooling tasks overlap is sheer delight!
Why does our family love potatoes? We listed down the reasons:
Potatoes are nutritious.
My husband and I agree that as parents who are raising three active children, we have to feed them with food that are, first and foremost, nutritious. This is where potatoes come in. Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C, complex carbohydrates, potassium, Vitamin B6, protein, and fiber.
Potatoes are excellent sources of Vitamin C. A medium 5.3 oz skin on potato has 27 mg of vitamin C per serving, which is 30% of the daily value. Vitamin C aids in collagen production, supports iron absorption, helps heal wounds, and keeps our gums healthy.
Potatoes are nutrient-dense complex carbohydrates. They provide 26 grams of carbohydrates, or 9% of the daily value per serving. Carbs are the primary fuel for the brain and the body, just what our growing kids need!
The high potassium content of potatoes make them good for the heart. A medium serving of potato has 620 mg of potassium, which is 15% of the daily value and more than a medium-sized banana (422 mg per serving). Potassium is an electrolyte essential for muscle functioning and it also helps maintain normal blood pressure.
Potatoes are fat-, sodium- and cholesterol-free. If you’re allergic to gluten, then potatoes should be part of your diet because they are also gluten-free.
Vitamin B6, which play important roles in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, can be found in potatoes. A serving has 0.2 mg of vitamin B6.
Potatoes have 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. Protein aids in muscle recovery, while dietary fiber helps regulate blood glucose and increase satiety making you feel full longer.
Potatoes are delicious.
We’re thankful for potato farmers (and the people who support them) for dehydrated potatoes! This is not an exaggeration. They make it so much easier to make mashed potatoes, which we pair with almost everything as we don’t consume much white rice.
My daughter, Antoinette, hosts “Inside Casa Ruffolo Cucina” in our YouTube channel and so we’ve been exploring dishes made of dehydrated potato flakes and granules, too.
Her twin brother, Nicholas, loves the cheesy potato and bacon soup.
Check out the video here:
Her baby brother Jeffrey loves the Ruffolo family version of potato cakes, which we usually make from leftover mashed potatoes.
Make your own potato cakes by following this recipe:
These are simple, affordable, and easy-to-make delicious dishes that we enjoy cooking as a family.
Potatoes are versatile.
Let’s be real here.
French fries get a lot of bad rap because they’re rich in salt and fat. There’s nothing wrong with satisfying your cravings from time to time. The key here is seasoning and eating in moderation, and if deep-frying is not your thing, try cooking your fries in the air fryer.
Potatoes are not all about fries, though. There are so many dishes to explore using them. Ten years ago, as an international student in Shanghai, China, I learned to cook Spanish omelette. It’s a simple, three-ingredient recipe — potatoes, eggs, and white onion. I have been cooking this since 2010. It’s delicious, easy to prepare, and can be eaten anytime of the day. The photo below is the two-ingredient omelette made by Nicholas, 7.
Living in the U.S. gave me the opportunity to explore different fresh potato varieties: russets, reds, yellows, whites, purples, fingerlings, and petites.
Below is a table that I really love because it serves as a guide on how to prepare dishes based on the potato type.
Potatoes are easily available.
There used to be limited options in the Philippine supermarkets when it comes to potatoes. But since moving back here four years ago, we’ve been delighted to see the options expanding.
Where can you purchase U.S. potato products?
- For U.S. dehydrated potatoes, check baking supply stores or message Potatoes USA-Philippines on FB and IG for more information.
- For U.S. frozen potato brands such as McCain, Simplot and Lambweston, head on to the frozen aisle of grocery stores nationwide.
- For U.S. table-stock/fresh potatoes, visit the seasonal, produce section of the supermarket.
Potatoes are affordable.
Potatoes are totally within your budget. You do not need to turn your wallet upside down to be able to afford it. It’s also readily available. After all, potato, from the perennial Solanum tuberosum, is the world’s fourth largest food crop. It follows rice, wheat, and maize.
Interesting historical fact that you can share to your children:
The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes around 8,000 BC to 5,000 B.C. In 1536, Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru, discovered the flavors of the potato, and carried them to Europe.
My husband, an Italian-American who shuffles between China and the Philippines, finds comfort in russet potatoes from Idaho which he buys in a supermarket in Cebu City.
Idaho, the present-day largest producer of potatoes, actually did not begin growing potatoes until 1836, when missionaries moved west in an effort to teach the native tribes to grow crops instead of relying upon hunting and gathering methods. It wasn’t until 1872 when the Russet Burbank variety was developed, that the Idaho potato industry began to flourish.
And here’s another educational fact that my future-scientist son, Nicholas, was in total awe.
In October 1995, the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space. NASA and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, created the technology with the goal of feeding astronauts on long space voyages, and eventually, feeding future space colonies.
On Friday (November 20) we will be posting on our YouTube and Facebook pages our storytelling session of the book Go! (written by Becky Bravo and illustrated by Vanessa Tamayo). The book tells the story of how slow and pale Jack, who doesn’t like healthy food, discovered the goodness of potatoes.
See you there!
What potato dishes do you make at home? What dish do you like the most? And do let us know if you try any of the recipes above.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received dehydrated potato granules and flakes from Potatoes USA in coordination with Mommy Bloggers Philippines. As a Mom blogger, I agree to use this product and post an article on my blog. The recipes in this post were cooked and tasted in our kitchen. Let it be known that I only recommend products or services which I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
