Registered nutritionist-dietitian Jo Sebastian has made the case for why potatoes deserve a spot on your plate.
The TikTok-famous personality is known for making nutrition fun, easy, and accessible to help Filipinos build healthy relationships with food and their bodies.
This is why Potatoes USA, the national marketing and research organization that represents the 2,000 commercial potato farmers operating in America, recently enlisted Sebastian’s help to make Filipinos realize just how cool potatoes are.
In an hourlong presentation during the Potatoes USA media event held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel earlier this month, the University of the Philippines Diliman community nutrition graduate explained the value of potatoes in detail—as if it were her very own thesis defense.
According to her, potatoes are nutrient-dense, fueling the brain and body with quality complex carbs.
In fact, the spud is a “nutritional powerhouse” with vitamin C (27 mg or 30% DV), potassium (620 mg or 15% DV), fiber (2 grams or 7% DV), vitamin B6 (0.2 mg or 10% DV), iron (1.1 mg or 6% DV), and plant-based protein (3 grams)—all for only 110 calories!
Complex carbs likewise make one feel full for an extended duration as these take longer to digest and absorb than simple carbs.
Not to mention, Sebastian said, potatoes are affordable, easy to prepare, and fit into a healthy Filipino diet. They are likewise versatile since they can be enjoyed in different ways and paired with local flavors.
“In the Philippines, potatoes are a staple in everyday home cooking. Potatoes are often used in hearty, nourishing dishes like afritada, caldereta, menudo, and many, many more!” Sebastian said.
“Many Filipino households use potatoes as an affordable ingredient in dishes like tortang patatas and even lumpiang shanghai,” she added.
To give Filipinos an idea of how to plan meals to incorporate potatoes, she gave a sample day’s menu.
This consists of tortang patatas with itlog na pula for breakfast, chicken afritada with extra potatoes for lunch, baked kamote and potato fries for snacks, and rice with grilled fish and ensaladang talong for dinner.
