Potatoes are a versatile, affordable, nutrient-dense vegetable that can help address food and nutrition insecurity, as well as the dietary needs of people in low-income communities.
That was one of the takeaways at a “Food Is Medicine” nutrition advisory meeting for health professionals hosted at the Spud Lab in Denver late last month.
What is “Food Is Medicine?” It’s a movement to provide people and communities with education, counseling and access to affordable, nutritious food as part of their overall healthcare.
- “Food Is Medicine” seeks to prevent, manage, or treat specific conditions and food insecurity. It typically includes medically tailored meals and groceries and/or produce prescriptions with the guidance of a registered dietitian.
- The goal of the movement is not to replace medicine with food but to pair the two together to promote wellness and help patients have the best possible health outcomes.
To promote the role of spuds in the “Food Is Medicine” movement, Potatoes USA hosted a diverse group of healthcare professionals — including dietitians, retail professionals, and nutrition advocates — to the Spud Lab for two days of round-table discussions and cooking activities.
Participants also took part in a potato sensory panel, comparing different types of potatoes, at the Food Innovation Center at CSU Spur, an educational, research and community destination in Denver.
Participants discussed common nutrition topics and challenges they face with their patients, such as the role potatoes’ resistant starch can play in limiting blood sugar responses. They also watched cooking demonstrations led by Executive Sous Chef Aurora Hollenbeck, who shared some nutritious, easy-to-make recipes, including:
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Participants said the event offered great opportunities for networking and partnerships. They were “pleasantly surprised” by the diverse applications of frozen and dehydrated potatoes, and the fact that those formats have similar nutritional value to fresh potatoes.
They got to make their own meals in the Spud Lab and came up with ideas like flatbread with potatoes, potato curry, potato brownies and more.
Others said they would add potato recipes and other information they learned into materials for their patients and share it with colleagues.