Calorie intake from white potatoes is surprisingly modest for adults and school-aged children, according to a new study released lately at the Experimental Biology 2012 Annual Meeting in the USA. The science-based Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) presented the new analysis using data.

School-aged children consumed, on average, only three percent or less of calories per day from all types of white potatoes, including baked, boiled, mashed, French fries and other mealtime preparation methods. And children consumed, on average, less than one percent of their daily caloric intake from white potatoes at school. By the same token, adults also consume few calories from white potatoes and as people get older, they consume fewer total calories, as well as fewer calories from white potatoes.

A leader in the vegetable category, white potatoes are packed with nutrition, they’re affordable, versatile and people of all ages enjoy them in any way they are prepared. According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, intakes of potassium and dietary fiber are low enough in the United States to be a public health concern. Only three percent of the population meets the adequate intake for potassium. The white potato – a nutrient-dense vegetable – is one way to help fill that gap.

For instance, a medium-sized skin-on baked white potato is an excellent source of potassium (26% DV), vitamin C (28% DV), and vitamin B6 (27% DV) and a good source of dietary fiber (15% DV), magnesium (12% DV), and iron (10% DV) based on a 2,000 calorie diet. USDA’s MyPlate initiative encourages all Americans to make half their plate fruit and vegetables. The nutrient-dense potato certainly fits on most of everyone’s plate.

US Government data show that total fruit and vegetable consumption has been declining in the last decade. We need to find more ways to encourage vegetable consumption, including white potatoes.

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