Potatoes are driving me crazy!

cncrafton
cncrafton Posts: 82 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So, at Trader Joe's I often buy a package of fully cooked baby potatoes. There's nothing added to them - they're just boiled (I think) and packaged. It's 190 calories for 9 ounces (which, okay, I know is a lot of potatoes. But damn it, I love my starches).

I was going to start buying raw potatoes and cooking them myself because I'm sure it would be cheaper, but the calorie difference is driving me crazy! According to MFP and a few other sites, it's more like 250 calories for 9 ounces.

A potato is a potato is a potato, right? Why is there such a difference in calories between the TJ's baby potatoes and just a regular old russet potato? I found a similar problem with the TJ's frozen roasted red potatoes with peppers and onions. 212 calories for 9oz of those, which are seasoned and include the peppers and onions in the calorie count, but MFP says it's 230 calories for JUST 9oz of a red potato, period.

Can anyone help me out here? I am really nervous that I have been underestimating the amount of calories when I've been eating pre-made potatoes.

Replies

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    So, at Trader Joe's I often buy a package of fully cooked baby potatoes. There's nothing added to them - they're just boiled (I think) and packaged. It's 190 calories for 9 ounces (which, okay, I know is a lot of potatoes. But damn it, I love my starches).

    I was going to start buying raw potatoes and cooking them myself because I'm sure it would be cheaper, but the calorie difference is driving me crazy! According to MFP and a few other sites, it's more like 250 calories for 9 ounces.

    A potato is a potato is a potato, right? Why is there such a difference in calories between the TJ's baby potatoes and just a regular old russet potato? I found a similar problem with the TJ's frozen roasted red potatoes with peppers and onions. 212 calories for 9oz of those, which are seasoned and include the peppers and onions in the calorie count, but MFP says it's 230 calories for JUST 9oz of a red potato, period.

    Can anyone help me out here? I am really nervous that I have been underestimating the amount of calories when I've been eating pre-made potatoes.

    Potatoes vary in starch content
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
    bad potatoes!
    :angry:
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    What ACG said. You just referenced at least three different varieties of potato and there are over 4000. They all have different starch content, potassium levels etc.

    Maybe just alter your diary to make up for the new potatoes? Or, maybe the TJ's package says what variety of potato is used in the package and you can look for those?
  • HMToomey
    HMToomey Posts: 276
    A little plant biology for you:

    Baby potatoes, or "new" potatoes, would have a lower starch content since the starch is stored in the end of the plant's growing season so that it has stores to survive a dormant period and regrow the next year. New potatoes are harvested long before the growing season is done so it doesn't have the chance to store as much starch.
  • mirsasha
    mirsasha Posts: 27
    Oh! That's helpful info. I'd always heard new potatoes where better if you were watching your starch/carbs, but didn't know why. Thanks.
  • cncrafton
    cncrafton Posts: 82 Member
    A little plant biology for you:

    Baby potatoes, or "new" potatoes, would have a lower starch content since the starch is stored in the end of the plant's growing season so that it has stores to survive a dormant period and regrow the next year. New potatoes are harvested long before the growing season is done so it doesn't have the chance to store as much starch.

    That is awesome info - thank you!

Categories