Children's Diet Consisting of White Potatoes is Packed With Nutrients

A recent research has demonstrated that consumption of non-fried white potato by children does not displace other vegetables from children's meals, but makes their diet rich in nutrients and adds to the overall servings of other vegetables. White potatoes are significantly higher in potassium, fiber and vitamin C. According to 2010 Dietary Guidelines, potassium and fiber have been identified as nutrients. One medium-sized skin-on potato contains just 110 calories per serving. It has 620gm of potassium, which is more than the potassium content of banana and also provides almost half the daily requirement (45%) of vitamin C. At the same time it contains no fat, sodium or cholesterol.

During the study scientists studied over 11,500 children between 5-18years of age. They found that children's meals which included white potatoes had more vegetables than the lunches without white potatoes. Scientists did not notice any difference between the prevalence of obesity between children who did not consume potatoes and those who did. Potatoes are an economic and nutrient-packed vegetable that children typically enjoy eating and they also compliment the meals served in American schools and homes. The research will be presented at The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Conference in Washington, D.C.


Source-Medindia