It’s the middle of the school year and since my daughters are in higher school levels, the more daunting their school lives have become. We all wake up very early to prepare for school and they arrive home just an hour early before dinner. They’ve got 8 mentally draining subjects (excluding physical education) and then a mountain of assignments when they get home. My kids are active dancers being kpop fans and so I know how physically and socially active they are when they are at school. I am not worried though despite these multitudes of tasks. You know why? Because I know, as their mom, that they are properly fed at home.
Kids experience mental and physical pressure daily. Like my kids who spend almost the entire day at school, our kids need power boosters from food that we prepare at home.
Aside from school activities, growing kids need a lot of energy for physical or outdoor activities. As moms, we can choose the right type of foods that they will both love to eat and will be able to provide the energy they need.
We can never underestimate the power of good nutrition, most specially at home. We may not know what our kids really eat when they are at school (I give them allowance, but most often they want me to cook baon for them), but at home, we are the boss of the kitchen so we have the power to make our meals as nutritious as possible. We can prepare tasty dishes made from that highly nutritious superfood, the potato.
Yes, a potato is considered a superfood. Potatoes are packed with Vitamin C to boost immunity, Vitamin B6 for brain power, and potassium for healthy growth and building muscles. Unlike white rice, which my growing teens are sadly fond of eating too, potatoes are filled with “quality carbs” that helps mental and physical performance. And you know what, potatoes are naturally fat-, sodium- and cholesterol-free.
These humble potatoes are considered superfoods – packed with vitamins and minerals and yet fat and cholesterol free.
From time to time, we can all indulge with the salt and cheese laden french fries, but there are lots of other delicious ways to serve potatoes. My “bunso” often requests for mashed potatoes with steamed vegetables. There are potato-based soups, salads, main dishes, and even sweet and savory desserts that use potatoes. Does your family love native delicacies or kakanin? They can also be made with potatoes. There are many potato recipes from different international cuisine just waiting for you to explore.
Potatoes USA, an organization that has thankfully brought US frozen, US tablestock and US dehydrated potatoes to our shores, offers a lot of options for potato meals. The organization recently visited the culinary club of The Raya School in Fairview, Quezon City to demonstrate the potato’s versatility. After a session on the potato’s benefits, and a preparation and cooking demo, the students were challenged to try their own potato dishes at home. You can actually try the recipes they used, recipes below)
Little kids from the culinary club of The Raya School learned about the goodness of potatoes through a cooking demo and workshop
The kids enjoyed making chocolate mashed potato truffles and broccoli cheddar potato puffs.
Chocolate Mashed Potato Truffles
Find the recipe for Chocolate Mashed Potato Truffles here.
Broccoli Cheddar Potato Puffs
Get the recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Potato Puffs here
If the kids can do it, how much more can we adults do, right? The key here is just preparing the potatoes in varied ways and tastes. By now, we are already aware that there’s no way that kids can be forced not to eat this or that, but there are many ways for them to learn about power snacking and right eating through delicious meals. How about using crisscut fries in your next kaldereta? Or make up some warm potato chowder for when the rainy days keep your family indoors? Instead of just frying tots, get creative and explore recipes that your child might enjoy. Try baking, or roasting, or mixing potatoes with low-calorie ingredients and flavorings. Consider keeping the skin on for more nutrients.
High quality US potatoes in a wide variety can be purchased from major supermarkets and groceries nationwide. For more information on US potatoes, visit
www.potatogoodness.com/ or like and follow Potatoes USA-Philippines on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines.
