Rice, baked potato or pasta? The lesser of the evil
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I like all of those choices, but I try to make them higher quality for the calorie bang. For example, I would choose brown rice or quinoa over white rice, whole grain pasta over white pasta, sweet potatoes over regular potatoes. Also, with potatoes - eat the skin too - a lot of the most nutritious part of the potato is in the skin and right under it, so you don't want to peel that off.
This. I love quinoa and sweet potatoes, but sometimes a girl just needs some baby red potatoes.
None of those foods are evil. In fact, no food is evil. 0 -
None of them are evil. Use proper portions. make them part of your meal plan for the day. Without looking things up I would say the potato gives more nutrients than rice or pasta. Be careful what you put on the baked potato...that's where the calories can add up. See if you can work them in a couple of times a week so you don't end up craving them so bad you eat too much of them at some point.0
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I love all three (one of the joys of running is that carbs are my friends) but a baked potato is a nice treat and, nutritionally probably the best choice of the three.0
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From what I understand fiber, counteracts carbs.
No one with a basic understanding of nutrition would make such statement.
I guess I was following the formula...both weight watchers and Atkins put a lot of emphasis on fiber. So... http://www.livestrong.com/article/466273-why-subtract-fiber-from-carbs/0 -
I'm not trying to eat no carbs, just less carbs specifically pasta, rice and potatos because they all tend to be pretty high in calories, and I don't always want to waste my calories on them. I still eat carbs and bread and such.
I am just trying to eat less processed foods too. I am not going on a low carb diet or paleo or anything, I just don't necessarily want to use that many calories on them, but when I do what is the better one to eat.
Ever think of cooking sweet potatoes in lieu of regular potatoes? They have more nutritional bang for your calorie-buck, so to speak. And they're delicious.0 -
None are evil! People have eaten these throughout history and eat them all over the world. Often the problem is that people eat too much of them. Just stick to one serving (which can be small - 1/4 cup pasta) with a side salad. You said you don't like the taste of brown rice - try mixing brown with white, still more nutritious but tastes more like white. Still have them but not as often - I rarely buy potatoes. But yesterday I bought some red potatoes, I'm going to chop and roast them with carrots, onions and squash so I won't be eating that much potato.0
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Pasta is a refined product. I'd recommend you try and stay as close to nature as possible and eat unrefined foods like brown rice or potatoes. Additionally, watch what you are putting on these foods because that's where the added calories may come from (oils 120 calories per tablespoon, butter, etc. ).0
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Of what you listed, potatoes. Regular pasta is too processed and so is white rice (for my taste).
Potato has lots of nutrients and some fiber.0 -
I have all three regularly.
I'd say potatoes are the best choice if you're only going to have one of the above.0 -
So you are saying that you eat rice, past & potatoes all along with bread and you're losing / lost weight? I'm curious to know how much are you eating at one time? If I'm reading this right you've lost 81lbs. Is that correct?0
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The only evil thing you're doing is going on a low carb diet.
^^^truth
and the answer is potatos... veggie carbs have more micronutrients in comparrison.
potatoes are quite good for you. they are higher in carbs and calories than most vegetables but if you eat the peeling especially they are full of nutrients. for example, potatoes have more potassium than a banana. they also contain iron and protein.0 -
Moi? I usually eat a wheat tortilla wrap every day for lunch, and then either pasta, potatoes, couscous or maybe rice noodles as part of my evening meal. If I have pasta, I usually have 75 g, slightly more or less depending on how many calories/carbs I have left in my diary. If potatoes, maybe 1 large potato. I'm finding they're great for getting more potassium in. On top of that, some days I might have a slice of sourdough bread, toasted, as a snack - maybe about 50 g worth. That's only a few days a week though. I also have carbs in fruit, veggies and about 3 days a week I have porridge (oatmeal) for breakfast. I eat some chocolate most days too. At the moment, my macros are set so that I aim for 45 % carbs, which works out somewhere between 150-200 g of carbs a day, and I usually come under that number.So you are saying that you eat rice, past & potatoes all along with bread and you're losing / lost weight? I'm curious to know how much are you eating at one time? If I'm reading this right you've lost 81lbs. Is that correct?
I've lost 81 lbs in total; 50 lbs since joining MFP and calorie counting.0 -
The only evil thing you're doing is going on a low carb diet.
^^^truth
and the answer is potatos... veggie carbs have more micronutrients in comparrison.
potatoes are quite good for you. they are higher in carbs and calories than most vegetables but if you eat the peeling especially they are full of nutrients. for example, potatoes have more potassium than a banana. they also contain iron and protein.
compared to other vegetables, potatoes are very poor in nutrient density. The skin of the potato contains the majority of the nutrients, more so than the rest of the potato!
A variety of vegetables and fruits come at fewer calories and more nutrients (phytochemicals, antioxidants). Potatoes do not provide much, I easily dismiss them from foods that I eat.0 -
(so many hot guys commenting on this thread... hehe)
Do you have any sweet potato? YUM! They're a tad lower in carbs than potato, and have extra nutrients. Oh and did I mention they taste sooooo good!!0 -
So you are saying that you eat rice, past & potatoes all along with bread and you're losing / lost weight? I'm curious to know how much are you eating at one time? If I'm reading this right you've lost 81lbs. Is that correct?
I know this wasn't aimed at me but I'm going to answer anyway. lol I eat bread every day, at least once. I eat pasta twice a week. I don't eat many potatoes but only because of the calories, not because of anything inherent in the potato. I've lost over 30 lbs and am still losing. The trick is to log accurately and only eat the serving size.0 -
If you limit them in general anyway, then when you have a craving or are giving yourself leeway, eat the one you want the most and don't worry about it.
I hear you on limiting grains; they don't fill me up enough for the amount of room they take up so I limit them too. (Then they are an amazing treat when I do eat them.) But if you like potatoes, keep in mind that you can get itty bitty ones that wouldn't take up so much room in your day, and there's lots of ways to prepare potatoes to keep some variety going. I don't limit potatoes at all.0 -
This post made me want some rice, baked potatoes and pasta.. I love carbs. I keep them moderate. Sweet potatoes are my fav, but I'd say just eat what gives you a "carb fix feeling" so you won't feel deprived0
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The only evil thing you're doing is going on a low carb diet.
Yup, choosing to eat a particular way for whatever reason is clearly 'evil'.
All those battling blood sugar issues should be locked up.
Who the hell are you to make such a dumb comment?
On topic ... Go the potatoes, lovely things full of good stuff.0 -
The only evil thing you're doing is going on a low carb diet.
Yup, choosing to eat a particular way for whatever reason is clearly 'evil'.
All those battling blood sugar issues should be locked up.
Who the hell are you to make such a dumb comment?
On topic ... Go the potatoes, lovely things full of good stuff.
I personally avoid pasta, rice and potatoes (and most breads) because they play havoc with my blood sugar -- but if I was to choose one it would be the potato or the rice for all the reasons previously mentioned. None of them are evil and if you have no medical condition where you should be avoiding them then it is all about balance and moderation. Enjoy!0 -
Instead of rice I make "cauliflower rice", which is just cauliflower pulsed in a food processor til it looks like rice.
I use to be a pasta junkie but now I make zucchini into pasta shapes like fettucine or lasagna noodles with a spiral slicer or mandolin.
Recently bumped up my carbs to 60 - 70 net and am having small portions of white potato and sweet potato.0 -
Because I have diabetes and some food intolerances 9wheat, corn and soy amongst others) , I avoid grains - period. For me, they are most certainly "evil".
A low-carb livestyle has lowered high blood sugars ( from an A1c of 7.3 to 5.5 and a fasting blood sugar of 183 to 97), and has removed eczema, arthritis and various digestive issues that were wreaking havoc in my life.
I don't eat pasta at all anymore and don't like the effect that even 1/4 and 1/2 c servings of rice (regardless of type) have of my blood glucose levels. I will, on occasion, have a small red potato or two or 1/2 a sweet potato.0 -
Because I have diabetes and some food intolerances 9wheat, corn and soy amongst others) , I avoid grains - period. For me, they are most certainly "evil".
A low-carb livestyle has lowered high blood sugars ( from an A1c of 7.3 to 5.5 and a fasting blood sugar of 183 to 97), and has removed eczema, arthritis and various digestive issues that were wreaking havoc in my life.
I don't eat pasta at all anymore and don't like the effect that even 1/4 and 1/2 c servings of rice (regardless of type) have of my blood glucose levels. I will, on occasion, have a small red potato or two or 1/2 a sweet potato.
Wow... I went on the "crazy low carb" diet aka "The Dukan Diet" but counted calories and on phase III, when I was to add back bread daily I added an apple instead. The main reason I didn't want to eat bread, rice , pasta or potatoes is that I am a carboholic. But guess what? I had blotchy skin, and I don't anymore since those items were eliminated from my diet in less than a month. I do eat yogurt, apples, avocados and bananas, and they seem to keep former digestive issues at bay.
As to the original poster, go with new potatoes.0 -
The only evil thing you're doing is going on a low carb diet.
Mwah ha ha!0 -
Potatoes or pasta (they make pasta with extra fiber and other nutrients). Eat rice if you're having a dish that really begs for it, but skip white rice altogether. (unless it's sushi, then definitely go for it). So, any of them are fine in moderation. Really. Try to avoid cutting out food groups unless it's necessary. If you 'just think they're bad for you', do some more research.0
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I don't believe evil belongs in the same sentence as rice, potato or pasta.0
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I think the key, like others have said is balance and portion control vs. elimination of any food. Baby red potatoes have a lower glycemic impact that regular white potatoes, so I try to use them when I just have to have a potato side, eating quinoa salads for a little meal while on midnight shift and it really stays with me and keeps me alert till I am done. I am on board with the philosophy that you should try to balance out the glycemic impact by eating healthy protein and fat when you consume carbs, works to keep me on a more even keel. I am not diabetic but my mother and brother are so I know that I have to head it off at the pass and I am carb sensitive, tend to gain my weight in the midsection etc, BUT if I have found if I try to limit my carbs to much I get lethargic and "brain fog". It is basically getting to know your body and figuring out what works for you as an individual. We have to keep tweaking and evolving!0
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How about sweet potatoes?
I eat fairly low carb and they are great as a side dish and way better than regular potatoes, pasta or rice!
Sweet potatoes are great! I made a baked one the other day, which I had with tuna. I also mash them sometimes, or roast them.
Someone else mentioned quinoa - that's a good alternative too.0
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