What on earth!

The powers to be have decided that white potatoes aren’t nutritious enough and WIC recipients (mothers and kids eligible for assistance because they’re living at a certain poverty level) shouldn’t be buying them.

The head of the Washington State Potato Commission disagreed and put himself on an all potato diet, losing 20 pounds in 2 months while doing so, to prove potatoes are indeed good for you and should be included in the WIC program.

Chris Voight’s typical meal plans would include “3 pounds of mashed, 2 pounds of sliced and fried, and 2 pounds of roasted, snack-cubed red and fingerling potatoes” given a special kick with spices like rosemary, thyme, oregano and dill. Sometimes he’d mix in bouillon cubes and gravy for a “special treat.” For Thanksgiving, it was a tur-tato, a turkey shaped potato.

The USDA currently allows women with WIC to use their subsidies on any fruit and vegetable except white potatoes. Sweet and other potatoes are allowed. Ironically, this is the same organization that allows french fries to count as vegetables in school nutrition programs, which are made from…gasp…white potatoes. Imagine they are probably also advocating meat as an excellent source of protein for the little ones.

A final decision on the potato ban will be made by officials next year. Hopefully, they’ll consider Mr. Voight’s experience and allow Mr. Spud a place in the grocery basket.

As a vegetarian or vegan, some of the best meals can be made with white potatoes, which happen to contain about half of your daily needs for Vitamin C, a good source of Potassium and one of the highest protein contents of any vegetable.

Enjoyed organically so you can eat the skins (spuds are on the dirty dozen list of conventional produce with the most pesticides) and bake one, topping it with black beans and/or salsa. They also make a good component to veggie hash containing tofu, seitan or other plant protein.

View more veg potato recipes, cook them and stick it to the tator censoring man!

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