Why potatoes are essential in the diet of children

Potatoes are a food with incredible attractiveness and potential, not only in childhood but throughout life. Together with rice and pasta, they are an essential group in the Mediterranean diet. Moreover, potatoes, even if they are in a very similar line, even improve the nutrients provided by rice a

Potatoes are a food with incredible attractiveness and potential, not only in childhood but throughout life. Together with rice and pasta, they are an essential group in the Mediterranean diet. Moreover, potatoes, even if they are in a very similar line, even improve the nutrients provided by rice and pasta, so they should not be missing from the children's diet. Do you want to know why potatoes are essential in children's diets?

Potatoes, an essential food in children's diet

Potatoes are an essential food in children's diet, they contain:

- Carbohydrates. Despite its bad reputation, carbohydrates are necessary for the body, are the source of energy of the muscles and the brain, so they ensure enough energy to function at school and in sports activities. In addition, potato starch is a complex carbohydrate, that is, it is transformed into glucose in a longer time than simple hydrates, ensuring that the energy is released slowly and progressively, without glucose peaks. Ideal for day to day.

- Vitamins of group B. This group includes many water-soluble vitamins of vital importance to the organism, for example, folic acid that allows the body to form red blood cells, or vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, which helps get energy from carbohydrates and proteins and store it in the body, in addition to intervening in the formation of hemoglobin in the blood. Broadly speaking, the B vitamins are necessary to obtain energy from the food we consume, so a good contribution ensures that the metabolism of the macronutrients works successfully.

- Vitamin C. It is an important antioxidant, essential for healthy skin, bones, hair and nails. In addition, it participates in the process of wound healing, something to keep in mind especially in childhood, where small mishaps occur frequently.

- Fiber. Fiber facilitates intestinal transit helping to prevent constipation.

- Minerals. Specifically it contains potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, very important minerals in growth stages, potassium for muscles and magnesium and phosphorus for bones. Potassium also participates in the regulation of water between the inside and outside of the cells, complementing with sodium.

Potatoes are in themselves, a fat-free food por, so they only contain the one that we add in cooking, so cooked or steamed are a food of 10. They also have a very curious feature ; without providing a high amount of calories, they have a very high satiating power.The satiating power of a food makes it possible to ensure that hunger will take longer to reappear, so, the more satiating, the more likely to avoid pecking between meals. Thus, potatoes could help us to prevent children from eating unhealthy snacks by keeping their stomachs full for longer.