Jinxy Knows Best: Potatoes as Part of a Healthy Weight Loss Diet

When it comes to healthy diets and weight-loss diets, potatoes are often labeled as a "bad guy". However, research recently released by the United States Potato Board (USPB) shows that potatoes can be a healthy part of a weight loss diet and shouldn't be relegated to the “do not eat” list. The study was conducted by the University of California, Davis, and the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology with the goal of gaining a better understanding of the role of potatoes in weight loss. The research was based on an extensive study in which 86 overweight men and women were monitored over the course of 12 weeks. The subjects were divided into three groups:

· High glycemic index foods with a 500 kcal/day deficit

· Low glycemic index foods with a 500 kcal/day deficit

· Basic adherence to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and the Food Guide Pyramid

All three groups ate between 5-7 potatoes per week and all three groups lost weight.

The conclusion of the study? Eating potatoes seemed to aid in weight loss even for those without a conscious calorie restriction. This confirms what health professionals and nutrition experts have said for years: when it comes to weight loss, it is not about eliminating a certain food or food groups, rather, it is reducing calories that counts.

To demonstrate how to include potatoes as part of a healthy diet, the USPB released a new recipe for Quick & Healthy Chili and Lime Potato Tacos. They are delicious and at only 250 calories and 7 grams of fat per serving, you can reinstate taco night guilt-free! This recipe, as well as many other healthy potato recipes, can be found online at www.PotatoGoodness.com in the searchable recipe database.

Potato Nutrition Facts:

One medium-size potato (5.3 ounces) has just 110 calories and is absolutely fat free
This darling of the dinner table provides 45% of your daily value of vitamin C
When eaten with the skin, potatoes have more potassium than a banana
On average, a potato costs 25 cents – now that’s nutrition on a budget!

Reader Giveaway: One lucky Jinxy Knows Best reader will win a United States Potato Board swag bag that includes a copy of The Nutrition Twins book “The Secret to Skinny,” a pair of potato scrubbing gloves, a PotatoGoodness shopping list notepad and healthy potato recipe booklets.
To enter, just visit www.PotatoGoodness.com and then come back and fill out the form below letting us know your favorite recipe you found there.

To tweet about the giveaway, you can use: RT @ThriftyJinxy Enter the Jinxy Knows Best #giveaway to win a swag bag from the United States Potato Board. http://bit.ly/m95ECj Please RT!

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Rules: All entries must be received by 11:59 PM CST 6/2/11. One entry per person, except for extra entries (see above). Entrants must be at least 18 years old and reside within the United States. Winner must respond to the winning e-mail within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Disclosure: I received sample swag bag for review. Any opinions expressed above are my own.

** Congrats to our winner - Kermit C **