White Potatoes?

ctraill

This may be a stupid question but I've heard time and time again that you should stay away from white starches and sugars - refined sugar, white rice and... white potatoes.

This has been bothering me for a bit. Aren't all potatoes white (with the exception of sweet potatoes)?? Or are certain kinds of potatoes better than others? I've just never heard the term white potato before I wasn't clear. There's so many varieties of potatoes! I'm not planning on giving up potatoes since I thoroughly enjoy them but I would be curious to know if some potatoes are just not as good for you.

debbyrae3

Sweet potatoes are actually good for you (they're carb-y, but not as much). I personally prefer sweet potatoes (but I was also raised in the South before moving to Missouri). I know of a good recipe to make sweet potato fries in your oven that uses minimal oil too. Just let me know if there's anything else I can help with. I'm kinda new to this and not following a super-strict diet (primarily portion control and making the better of choices.)

tarapin

I stay away from sugar and flour and most things white, such as bread and rice. I do however eat potatoes. No matter what the color because the are a complex carb and take longer to break down. I do not eat fries unless they are from the whole potato, due to additives in them, such as modified corn starches and dextrose, that makes them a simple carb that induces cravings. Not sure if that's what you were inferring but hope it helps!

eleanoreb

white potatos covers allt he types of potatos except for sweet potatos.. (red potatos etc are also "white potatos" )

Aimee_PD

I dont particularly like sweet potatoes so i continue to eat the "white" ones. but i do however eat whole grain "wheat" breads, rice, and pasta now..and avoid sugar.

foxyforce

if it comes from the ground, I eat it. White bread has stuff added to it. I know that white potatoes have carbs...but they come from the ground! How bad can they really be!

ctraill

white potatos covers allt he types of potatos except for sweet potatos.. (red potatos etc are also "white potatos" )

Good to know, thank you! I just never knew what people meant when they said white potatoes. It seemed so vague because there's so many different kinds of potatoes.

The argument against potatoes still seems silly to me - it's not refined like white flour or white rice or white sugar even, they're naturally white!

PoshTaush

white potatos covers allt he types of potatos except for sweet potatos.. (red potatos etc are also "white potatos" )

Good to know, thank you! I just never knew what people meant when they said white potatoes. It seemed so vague because there's so many different kinds of potatoes.

The argument against potatoes still seems silly to me - it's not refined like white flour or white rice or white sugar even, they're naturally white!

Wanted to let you know...

Sweet potatoes are less straining on your glycemic index....(sugar stuff...the thing that diabetics really have to watch)

What this really translates down to is that they don't shoot your blood sugar as high as white potatoes do when eaten. Then, having the "sugar crash" the white potatoes give you. Thus would be less "carby" than white ones?

Hope that kind of makes sense??

Soo.....If you wanted to know a REASON for choosing a sweet potato over a white potato that would be the case.

Kind of ironic with the SWEET being in the name and all...... sheesh......

turbojanem

I stay away from sugar and flour and most things white, such as bread and rice. I do however eat potatoes. No matter what the color because the are a complex carb and take longer to break down. I do not eat fries unless they are from the whole potato, due to additives in them, such as modified corn starches and dextrose, that makes them a simple carb that induces cravings. Not sure if that's what you were inferring but hope it helps!

this is pretty much what i do. potatoes are not processed like the white flours and sugars...processing removes nutrients. i do eat more sweet potatoes more than any others. and typically small, new red potatoes with the skin on.
you can google Glycemic Index to find out more info on the sugars in foods. the big key is to not eat high GI foods alone....always balance with lean proteins so that your blood sugars don't spike and crash. (the lower the GI number, the less spike and crash, the more spike and crashing of our blood sugars, the more trauma to our brain and systems)

cheering you on!
Jane