Baked Mashed Potato Bites Recipe - Healthy Appetizers (2024)

FAQs

Are mashed potatoes a healthy snack? ›

Wealth of micronutrients. In addition to carbohydrates — a needed energy source for your body and brain — potatoes contain a wealth of micronutrients. They're a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. As a bonus, potatoes are low in calories, contain no fat or cholesterol, and are sodium-free.

The Bottom Line. It is totally fine to eat potatoes every day. While how you prepare and cook potatoes and how much you eat could possibly impact your health, whole potatoes with skin are a nutritious vegetable with health benefits.

A baked potato is also a good substitute for a side of mashed potatoes. While the calorie content of a small potato is similar to that of mashed potatoes, it offers a more fiber — 12 percent of the daily value — and supplies 19 percent of your vitamin C needs.

Almost any meat complements the creamy texture of mashed potatoes. Traditionally, they're served with roasted chicken, grilled steak, pork chops, meatloaf, or turkey. However, they also work well with more gourmet choices like duck, lamb, or a rich beef bourguignon.

Because the starch is low calorie but very filling, researchers found that filling a plate full of potatoes can contribute to a shrinking waistline. “People tend to eat the same weight of food regardless of calorie content in order to feel full,” professor Candida Rebello, a co-author of the study, told SWNS.

They're also chock full of starch, which is a carbohydrate. But even though a potato is considered a complex “healthy” carb, your body digests these carbs faster than other kinds of complex carbs. These broken-down carbs flood your blood with sugar.

Of rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread, potatoes are the healthiest of these starchy and complex carbohydrate foods. This is because potatoes are dense in nutrients, containing essential minerals, vitamins, and other micronutrients. Potatoes are also high in fiber, helping to satiate hunger and regulate blood sugar.

As they age, or with improper storage, potatoes may develop sprouting and green spots. If there isn't any sprouting, you can use the color change as an indicator of spoilage. If the skin looks greenish or if there's sprouting present, you'll need to remove the sprouts or toss the whole potato, depending on severity.

Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice. And if given the choice between rice or potatoes, 9 times out of 10, we would certainly go with potatoes simply because they are more versatile and can be made in many different ways.

Which potato is healthiest? ›

The Healthiest Potato is the Red Potato

After taking into account the mineral density, the vitamin density, the macronutrient balance, the sugar-to-fiber ratio, the sodium-to-potassium ratio, and the phytochemical profile, red potatoes are the healthiest potato with data from the USDA Food Database.

Bake or microwave a sweet potato or regular potato in its skin for a nutritious and simple side dish. For a lighter, higher-protein take on traditional mashed potatoes, use Greek yogurt in place of cream or milk. This simple addition adds filling protein to your dish and provides a creamy texture and tangy flavor.

In the restaurant, they're made with potato flakes. The powdered mixture also contains a good bit of sodium, between the salt and MSG, as well as milk and other seasonings. If you prefer using mashed potato flakes, you can use them instead of boiling peeled potatoes.

They're rich in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Potatoes were a life-saving food source in early times because the vitamin C prevented scurvy. Another major nutrient in potatoes is potassium, an electrolyte which aids in the workings of our heart, muscles, and nervous system.

While on the surface the straight forward answer is mashed potatoes are healthier than potato chips, the correct answer depends on the additional ingredients and method of cooking. Mashed potato is made with boiled potatoes mashed together with butter and milk(healthier) or cream (less so) and the amounts involved.

Potatoes are a decent source of fiber, which can help you feel full longer. Fiber also can help prevent heart disease by keeping your cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check. Potatoes are also rich in antioxidants that prevent diseases and vitamins that help your body function properly.