Potatoes have been getting a bad rap and some people call it a fattening food but this is actually a big myth. It’s not really the potatoes themselves which are the culprit but rather the methods in preparing them. One of the popular methods is deep frying to get those delicious french fries. And guess what? Deep frying isn’t healthy and french fries are fattening. Since french fries are so popular in fast food chains and many people eat them often and as you know fast food chains are linked to many health issues, potatoes have been automatically classified as a bad food. Even worst, many people believe potatoes are associated with weight gain issues and obesity as well.

Let’s dispel this myth once and for all. Potatoes are not a bad food. They are actually healthy depending how you prepare them. Always opt for baking, boiling, steaming and grilling instead of deep frying. Baked potatoes for instance have a medium Glycemic Index(GI) around 56 which makes them a good food. Foods with lower GI release energy gradually and do not spike your insulin levels followed by a crash later on, hence they are a great metabolism booster.

Potatoes are great source of carbohydrates for people involved in body building and can be eaten pre-workout and post-workout as well. Some bodybuilders often have lean steak with some baked potatoes for a meal. People who want to lose weight can also benefit from potatoes due to its medium GI and dietary fiber provided you leave the skin on. The skin also has valuable nutrients.

In addition, potatoes are not loaded with calories. A medium-size baked potato has only about 110 calories but it can keep hunger pangs at bay for some time. So this makes it a great weight loss food. To make it even more filling, just add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on your baked potatoes.

You can be creative with potatoes. Instead of doing baked, try some mashed potatoes. Here is a nice, simple, healthy and tasty recipe which you can try at home:

500 grams potatoes
3 garlic cloves
1 small onion
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
3 branches of fresh coriander
2 eggs
Salt
Pepper

Step-by-step instructions

(1) Add potatoes in recipient with water and bring to boil. Be sure to wash the potatoes well first. Leave the skin on. Don’t peel as the skin has vitamins and minerals.

(2) Finely chop garlic and onions and lightly stir-fry them in 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Set aside.

(3) Finely chop coriander and leave aside.

(4) Hard boil the eggs, slice them and put aside.

(5) When potatoes are cooked, drain the water and place them in a big bowl. Use a potato masher to bring the potatoes to puree.

(6) Add the onions and garlic with the olive oil in the mashed potatoes. Mix.

(7) Add the fresh coriander. Mix.

(8) Add eggs. Mix.

(9) Add salt and pepper according to taste. Mix.