Americans eat almost one potato per day. Potatoes are the second most consumed food, trailing only milk products. That makes them by far the most widely consumed vegetable and, by virtue of quantity, potatoes are the number one source of vitamin C in the American diet.
In fact, potatoes are a nutrient dense food, providing only about 5% of daily calorie needs, but a higher percent of many needed nutrients. For example, one medium baked potato is a great source of complex carbohydrates, contains 26% of the U.S. recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C, 9% of the RDA of iron and about 17% of the RDA of vitamin B6. All this while being nearly fat- and sodium-free and containing only about 150 calories!
When buying fresh potatoes make sure they feel firm, and are free of sprouts. Green skin on a potato means that a natural toxin called solanine has built up. This is a normal part of potato aging, but you don't want to eat a green-skinned potato.
Store potatoes in a dry, dark location and avoid putting them in the refrigerator - this will turn the starch in potatoes into sugar ruining the flavor. A paper bag in a cool room (around 50 degrees) is a good place to store potatoes.
Some great and healthy baked potato toppers include salsa, non-fat sour cream or stewed tomatoes with a little low-fat grated cheese.
-Source: Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition
-Source: Global Potato News
