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I know this isn’t my usual potato post, but I just have to share it with you all. My sister sent me this article online, and I was intrigued by the title alone. It reads, “A driver was cut off in West Allis. He retaliated by throwing a baked potato at the other vehicle”. Yes, this was in Wisconsin. And yes, I’m a little upset.

Before I explain my outrage, let me give you some details. The accused potato launcher, a 25 year old male from New Berlin, claimed that another car driving by had cut him off while making a U-turn. This is a normal occurrence. What is NOT a normal occurrence is someone deciding to throw a baked potato at another car to retaliate. Upon being cut off, this is exactly what he did.

While the details are a bit fuzzy (who just has a baked potato handy to launch at people that make you mad?) (I don’t even have that, and I write an entire blog about potatoes!), what we do know is that this baked potato slammed into another vehicle. As a result, “potato shrapnel” got all over the three people inside. Imagine their surprise when they didn’t get a middle finger thrown at them, but rather a baked potato. In the end, the one that threw the potato got a ticket for disorderly conduct.

First off, what would this guy say to future employers that could potentially see this on his record? “Oh yeah, I got mad at this person that cut me off. Naturally, I threw a potato at them.” Imagine that job interview.

Second, how dare he waste a perfectly good potato? He could’ve eaten it. That’s literally a potato’s purpose. So much anger. He needs a long look in the mirror.

Lastly, imagine being the car that got hit with the potato. One second, you’re just driving along and the next, you have potato bits all over you.

In the end, there are so many better ways to express your anger at terrible drivers. Chucking a potato at them is simply not the answer.

Potatoes are #1! Literally. Potatoes are the #1 vegetable crop in the United States. They are also the fourth most consumed crop in the world, right behind rice, wheat, and corn.

I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again. Potatoes are amazing. While potatoes usually get a bad reputation for being unhealthy, it’s generally because people layer them with cheese, bacon, sour cream, salt, etc. Potatoes can be healthy, if eaten in the right way. Potato chips and french fries will always be bad for you, but baked potatoes don’t have to be.

Around the 1950’s, processed potatoes likes french fries have become popular. This is why it’s becoming even more necessary to eat them right.

A medium sized potato contains about 110 calories, only. On top of that, potatoes provide vitamin C and vitamin B6, along with calcium, fiber, and iron. The vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, which may prevent cell damage. Potatoes also may help with digestion, heart health, blood pressure, and cancer prevention.

Blood Pressure

The fiber found in potatoes can help lower cholesterol. They also have A TON of potassium, even more than bananas! Potassium can also lower blood pressure, due to its actions as a blood vessel widener.

Brain Functioning and Nervous System Health 

The B6 vitamin in potatoes is critical to maintaining neurological health. It helps to create useful brain chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals help with depression and stress.

Immunity

Vitamin C can prevent illnesses like the common cold, and potatoes have a ton of it. 45% of the daily recommended intake can be found in one potato.

Digestion

Potatoes have a lot of fiber, which makes them key to helping with digestion. Due to the high level of carbohydrates, potatoes are also easy to digest.

The Healthiest Way to Eat Them

Potatoes are healthiest when kept in their whole, unprocessed form. Baking a potato in the oven or the microwave is healthiest. Steaming is also a healthy way to cook a potato. These methods help to maintain the nutrients in the potato. Methods like boiling cause a significant amount of nutrient loss.

Attempt to eat the skins, as well. The skin contains more nutrients, along with most of the fiber, than the rest of the potato.