Power Up with Potatoes!
Potatoes are more than just tasty— they’ re full of energy and important nutrients your body needs to grow, move, and learn. Even though some people think potatoes aren’ t healthy, that’ s a myth! Let’ s find out the truth about this amazing vegetable.
Myth # 1: Potatoes are just empty carbs. Truth: Potatoes are a natural source of energy because they contain complex carbohydrates- these are the good kind of carbs that give your brain and muscles long-lasting power. That makes potatoes a great food for athletes, students, and anyone who wants to stay active and focused!
Myth # 2: Potatoes don’ t have any vitamins. Truth: Potatoes are loaded with nutrients! One medium potato with the skin on has:
• More potassium than a banana( great for your muscles and heart)
• Nearly half your daily Vitamin C( helps your immune system and healing)
• Fiber( especially in the skin!) to keep your body working smoothly
Myth # 3: You should never eat potatoes if you want to be healthy. Truth: That’ s not true! Potatoes can be a healthy part of any balanced diet. They’ re full of important nutrients, especially when you eat them with the skin on. It’ s all about how you prepare them- baked, roasted, or air-fried potatoes are great choices. Try topping your potatoes with veggies!
Are Potatoes a Fruit or a Vegetable?
If you’ ve ever wondered whether a potato counts as a fruit or a vegetable, you’ re not alone. Potatoes are definitely a vegetable, but they’ re in a special group called starchy vegetables. That’ s because they’ re full of complex carbohydrates, which give your body energy. Other starchy vegetables include corn, green peas, and sweet potatoes.
What makes something a vegetable? In science, vegetables are the edible parts of plants— like leaves( lettuce), stems( celery), roots( carrots), and in this case, tubers. A tuber is a thick part of a stem that grows underground and stores nutrients. Potatoes are tubers, which means they’ re the plant’ s way of saving up energy for later.
Fruits, on the other hand, come from flowers and contain seeds. Potatoes may grow flowers, but the potato itself is not a fruit. It doesn’ t grow from a flower and it doesn’ t have seeds inside.
Instructions: Create your own healthy potato meal using the MyPlate categories. Write or draw one food in each group.
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