It’s been four months since my kids started their school year and as their lessons and activities advance, so does their need for motivation and energy to keep on going and moving.  I have two boys who are in school, one in junior high school and the other one in elementary.  The toddler is schooled at home through lots of playing, running, hopping, singing, and dancing. 

My athlete teenager, artist grade-schooler, and exploring toddler.

If there’s one food which I would always encourage my children to eat, it’s potatoes.  Why?  Here are some reasons:

1. A potato is a vegetable I don’t need to force them into eating.  This means less “fights” because they naturally love it already!  Thanks to Fries (which I buy from the supermarket’s frozen section – should have the seal of US Potatoes!) which they love so much. 

3. Potatoes are Vitamin-rich!  They aren’t just good source of good carbs.  In fact, potatoes are rich in vitamin C to boost kids’ immunity, vitamin B6 which improves cognitive function (perfect for all the math problems and memorization in school), and potassium for my active boys’ healthy growth and building of muscles.  Over all potatoes are quality carbs that help optimize both mental and physical performance.  It’s fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol free!

You see, potatoes aren’t to be ignored or taken for granted, they are packed when it comes to nutritional benefits not only for our school kids, but for us as well.  Thankfully nowadays, we have more potato meal options which we could offer our family.  Thanks also to Potatoes USA, an organization that has brought US frozen, US tablestock and US dehydrated potatoes to our shores. 



Sharing with you my own recipe:

Pork Chop Con Patatas In Gravy Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
5 pork chops
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 med onion chopped
2 large POTATOES
2 tbsp flour
2 cups water
2 tbsp butter or margarine
2 tbsp soy sauce
Salt
Pepper
Cooking oil

PROCEDURE:
1. Heat oil and fry salted and peppered pork chops. Once cooked set aside.
2. Lessen cooking oil, add butter, then sautee garlic onion, add squared POTATOES.
3. Add cooked pork chops.
4. Dissolve flour into water then pour into the pan. Mix and make sure there are no lumps.
5. Add soy sauce then simmer for 5 mins in low fire.
6. Done.  Serve with steamed rice.

Preparing and portioning your potatoes are a step towards healthier and happier kids. It’s time for them to learn that there’s so much more to power snacking and right eating than just avoiding sweets.

High quality US potatoes in a wide variety can be purchased from major supermarkets and groceries nationwide. For more information on US potatoes, visit www.potatogoodness.com/ or like and follow Potatoes USA-Philippines on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines/.

Second Potato Meal: Breakfast Potatoes (Hash Corned Beef and Hash Browns)

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The first type, FRESH POTATOES, I'm very familiar with those.  These are the potatoes which are carefully grown by farmers following strict guidelines se by US seed certification system to ensure that every potato product is high quality.  But what I didn't know is that there are seven potato type categories: russet, red, white, yellow, blue/purple., fingerling, and petite.
The US FROZEN POTATOES come in different varieties and are easily available in leading supermarkets nationwide. Some of the cuts available are frozen half shells, wedges, slices, straight cuts, crinkle cuts, loop/curly or popularly known as twister fries, lattice/basket weave, tater tots, and hash browns. I recently bought some frozen US potatoes in the nearby community market because my kids love french fries and my personal choice, hashbrowns.  I bought them because it's cheaper to prepare them at home than buy them from fast food chains.  Plus cooking them at home means knowing what type of cooking oil I deep-fry them in.  These frozen potatoes also use state-of-the-art technology to meet high industry standards and are instantly quick-frozen to lock in the flavor and nutrients of fresh potatoes. The US Frozen potatoes we see in supermarkets met and passed the stringent requirements of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

• It's a nutritious food packed with vitamins and minerals.
• It's more practical to cook your own frozen potatoes (fries or hashbrowns) at home than order from fast food.
• Cooking an easy healthy potato recipe at home with the kids and even husband is a great family bonding activity.

FROZEN POTATOES:
Brands: 

• Carnation
• Park Lane
• Dane
• Lamb Weston
• Island Valley
• Food Service Pack
• Alexia
• American Maple Leaf
• Golden
• Frenchies

Available in these supermarkets: 

• Cherry Foodarama
• S&R
• SM Supermarkets
• Rustan’s
• Robinson’s

DEHYDRATED POTATOES
Available in these supermarkets: 

• All about baking
• The Baker’s Company
• Best Value Factory Outlet
• Gourdo’s
• S&R

FRESH POTATOES
Available in these supermarkets: 

• Rustan’s
• SM
• Robinsons

So go grab a pack of US potatoes today for you and your kids on your next supermarket trip.  For more information, recipes, and tips, like Potatoes USA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines.

Raising three boys is no joke.  Boys are more active, more playful, rougher and tougher to handle.  Given that, they all need nutritious foods that would help boost their energies and immunity to sickness.  Let’s take for example my eldest child who is a basketball varsity.  He trains every day after school.  I can just imagine how tired and drained he could be coming home every night right after their training.  To be able to keep up and not be sickly, he really needs to eat properly.  As a mom, it’s my duty to make sure that he and his brothers take in nutritious food and avoid junk that will not help make them healthy at all.

That means giving my kids meat, fruits and vegetables.  Since they need a lot of energy for their daily activities, I’ve always known that what their bodies need are foods rich in potassium and vitamin C.  Surprisingly, the staple vegetable present in our household, has all the nutrition they need: US Potatoes!  Honestly, I didn’t know that my BFF potatoes are that nutritious!  I’m glad it’s my and my children's favorite.

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My kids and I love potatoes in different forms like fries, mashed potatoes, hash browns, baked potatoes, buttered potatoes, and potato croquettes.  I also use potatoes in our household dishes with soup, with corned beef, in omelets, in Menudo, ground pork medley, and many more!  US Potatoes are enjoyable, easy to eat and delicious. The best part is, knowing that something this delicious could be super nutritious.  

Nutritional Benefits of Potatoes

• Potassium – Did you know that it has even more potassium content than banana?  This would help my basketball varsity child keep up with the muscle strengthening activities during his daily trainings.  It will also give energy boost to him and my playful grade-schooler!  Potatoes could fuel both the body and the brain because it’s also a good supply of water and ions in the body.  The concentration is highest in the skin and just beneath it. So, eating the potato with its skin is always beneficial.  They also contain calcium, iron, and phosphorus.   Gladly we eat clean potato skin of baked or steamed potatoes.
• Vitamin C - Potatoes are known for the large amounts of Vitamin C present in them. Typically, 100 gm will contain about 17 mg of Vitamin C.  This is great for boosting immunity against illnesses!
• Vitamin A, B and P – All these vitamins help the brain function well.  When you have kids in school, you need all these brain foods right?
• Brain Food - Proper functioning of the brain depends largely on the glucose level, oxygen supply, various components of the vitamin-B complex and certain hormones, amino acids and fatty acids like omega-3. Potatoes cater to almost all the needs mentioned above. 
• Carbohydrates – Potatoes are high in carbohydrates, and thereby maintain good levels of glucose in the blood. This prevents the brain from letting fatigue creep in and it keeps your cognitive activity and performance high. 
• Other vitamins and minerals- Potatoes contain iron which is what the blood and brain needs.  Since it’s a brain food, it also contains phosphorus, zinc, and the B complex vitamins. They also help in the maintenance of bone strength and structure, especially for kids at earlier stages.  My baby boy who’s turning one next week also loves mashed potatoes and steamed potatoes with rice!

Were you also surprised to know that the power potatoes are that nutritious? 

Now let me share with you a simple US Potato Recipe which you and your kids will surely love!  I’m sharing our homemade mashed potato recipe: 

Mashed Potato Recipe:

1. Peel and cut 8 medium-sized US Potatoes.  
2. Put the potatoes in a large pan, add enough water and bring to a boil for 15-20 mins.  
3. Drain water and put on low fire.  
4. Mash the potatoes.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup milk.  Mix all ingredients.  
6. Make sure there are no lumps and the mashed potato is creamy.
7. Serve with a smile.

Oh, I must add this, that not only US Potatoes are good for kids, they are also beneficial to us too because it potatoes can lessen the risk of heart ailments and can aid in living a healthier eating lifestyle.  Also if you’re living an active lifestyle or an athletic person, the nutritional values of US Potatoes could help boost athletic performance!