Yesterday, at the grocery store, I overheard a lady say that potatoes are her favorite vegetable. I am sorry lady, but you are doing your body a huge disservice if your whole vegetable intake revolves around potatoes.
For some reason all the basic information about nutrition was not properly explained to the massed and unless you seek out the information there is quite a few misinterpretations. Society has this misconception that calories are bad. If there are no calories in something, there is a good chance it has no nutritional value (celery, cabbage and tea among the few exceptions to this rule). Calories give our bodies fuel and it is important to fuel your body adequately so it can function properly. I thought I would clear up a few food items that seem to disguise themselves as vegetables, when in fact they aren’t.
Potatoes
I love potatoes, they are delicious, I love gnocchi, truffle fries, mashed potatoes, hash browns, you name it. However, I fully acknowledge that potatoes are a starch. The glycemic index on potatoes is fairly high, so they are best eaten post workout. Potato in moderation is not bad for you, but if potatoes were your source of nutrients on a daily basis, it might be a good idea to switch to a leafy green. I found this chart online from WH Foods which shows the nutritional information for a baked potato.
If you look at this in comparison, to lets say kale, the nutritional value is completely different:
Corn
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes – If I don’t have spinach, I use kale and if I don’t have chickpeas I use black beans. This recipe is so versatile
- Vegetable Mac and Cheese – I mean there is still milk and cheese, so it isn’t that healthy but it is a good way to pack in an extra serving of vegetables
- Kalefredo – Yup, it is worth a try, so many sneaky vegetables in this one
- Cauliflower Pizza – Pizza is its own food group in my house, so anyway I can make it healthier is a plus. Don’t expect it to taste like pizza dough because it doesn’t, but it still is a nice altertantive.