When most of us think of superfoods, we typically think of leafy, green vegetables – like kale. But, what does the term superfood actually mean? According to Miriam Webster Dictionary, a superfood is "a food that is rich in compounds (such as antioxidants, fiber, or fatty acids) considered beneficial to a person's health."
Well, that sounds a lot like a potato! One that we have found has an exceptional buttery, creamy taste is the Klondike potato, specifically. It has a unique seed that is grown in primarily Idaho, which gives it a smooth, richer taste, and that can make all of the difference in the world!
In magazines, recipe books, blogs, on television, we have often been told to stay away from starchy vegetables. However, all vegetables are an important part of our diet and our bodies need these healthy carbohydrates to function. To keep it simple, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is what our cells need to survive. And potatoes provide plenty of healthy, unprocessed carbs without a ton of calories – only 110 per serving!
Just one medium potato, with its skin, provides more of the recommended daily value of potassium than a banana. What?? Yep, it's true!
Plus, 4.3 grams of protein, 10% of your daily value of B vitamins, and 2 grams of fiber! Yes, please!
We now know how beneficial it is to incorporate potatoes into your diet. So, let's talk about how easy it is to do just that. It's all about the preparation! Skip the fried potatoes and keep it healthy by steaming, mashing, baking, or roasting. We dig these Klondike Potatoes because they have so many healthy varieties, colors, and flavors.
Check out this healthy version of a classic side dish we just made - Chilled Watermelon & Klondike Potato Salad:
Need something on the fly? Klondike makes it extra easy with their Microwaveable Steamer potatoes – steamed right in the bag (yummy sauce included). It only takes 4 1/2 minutes for this ultimate dish to be ready for dinner! Available in four different flavors, these Green Giant™ Gourmet® Microwaveable Steamer packs make the perfect side dish for any meal.
If you're looking for quick-cooking potatoes to flavor how you like, try the Klondike Express® packs – no sauce, just potatoes. These babies will be ready for dinner in just six minutes.
6 TIPS on how to cook healthy potatoes:
- MASHED - boiled potatoes, drain, then mash with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, & pepper.
- MICROWAVED - Use Steamers®, Express® packs OR place potatoes in a paper bag and microwave. The paper bag traps the natural moisture of the potato resulting in a more moist and fluffy potato.
- BAKED - Place potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake for one hour. Turn potatoes every 20 minutes or so to ensure even cooking. PRO TIP: Once fully baked, wrap the potato in a kitchen towel and roll onto the counter to loosen the insides of the potato resulting in a fluffy baked potato.
- BOILING - With the skins on, scrub potatoes to remove dirt or debris. Cut into equal size pieces and boil until soft. Drain water and place two paper towels on top of potatoes and cover with a lid. After a few minutes, the paper towels will absorb the extra moisture without leaving your boiled potatoes dry. Want to add potatoes to your salads? Simply boil with a few drops of vinegar to help the potatoes hold their shape.
- GRILLED - Skewer potatoes with other veggie or place in a foil packet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sat & pepper, then grill for 40 minutes or until tender.
- ROASTED - Drizzle pan with oil or for an oil-free version, line the pan with parchment paper. Roast on high for 40 minutes or until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
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