Even veggie-haters can’t ghost the potato

From my head to my potatoes, I’ll be honest: I’m not the biggest fan of vegetables. If I’m being frank, I avoid greens like an embarrassing ex at a party. 

But here’s the twist: what vegetable will always hold my heart? Potatoes. Yep, the golden-brown, pleasant, starchy bestie who has never let me down. 

And it turns out potatoes have been conquering hearts long before I arrived on the scene. Did you know that The Inca Indians of Peru were the first to produce potatoes around 8,000 B.C. and 5,000 BC?

Ancient legends even used the time it took to cook a potato to calculate time. Imagine living in a world where, instead of minutes, you tell someone, “I’ll be there in one potato.”

But the potato makeover didn’t end there. Potatoes became the first vegetable to be launched into orbit in October 1995, thanks to NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison according to the presentation of Jo Sebastian at the Potatoes USA event. While other vegetables were relaxing on Earth, potatoes were gearing up for their astronaut age, feeding space crews and potentially future space colonies. 

Speaking of shattering records, in 1974, an Englishman named Eric Jenkins planted a single potato plant that yielded an astounding 370 pounds of potatoes. That is more than enough to keep my refrigerator filled for several months.

And because potatoes are essentially the Beyoncé of veggies, they have two national holidays. National Potato Day is honored twice: on 19 August and again on 27 October, because clearly, once isn’t enough. 

Oh, and let us not forget Mr. Potatohead. In 1952, the toy legend became one among the first figures to appear in television commercials. 

Potatoes are almost always the star of Filipino home-cooked dishes. Potatoes have made an appearance in a variety of recipes, including afritada, caldereta, and menudo, and they have been the star of the show. Honestly, have you ever had a warm Filipino stew that didn’t taste ten times better with chunky potatoes soaking up the flavor?

Aside from tasting delicious, potatoes are secretly good for your health. They’re high in nutrients like Vitamin C, potassium, protein, and complex carbs, which energize your body and brain without leading you to faint an hour later. They also contain fiber, Vitamin B6, and iron, which will keep you going throughout the day. And, if you’re interested in gut health (who isn’t nowadays?) Early research indicates that resistant starch in potatoes may help you feel fuller for longer, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and even enhance the good bacteria in your gut.

The best part? Potatoes are one of the most budget-friendly, easy-to-cook ingredients out there. Whether you’re balling on a budget or going all out, potatoes always fit the vibe. They’re super versatile, too — you can buy them fresh, frozen, or even instant for those lazy days when you just can’t.

And if you’re wondering how to spice up your meals, it’s really simple. For breakfast, try tortang patatas with itlog na pula to get your day started right. Are you craving a snack? Baked kamote and potato fries are excellent options (pro tip: use an air fryer). Lunch may be a basic chicken afritada, but don’t be shy about adding more potatoes. And for dinner, a simple combination of rice, grilled fish and ensaladang talong is much improved with a side of potatoes.

So, why should potatoes have a permanent presence on your plate? Simple. They’re nutrient-dense, nourish your body and brain, are ideal for a Filipino diet, and are varied enough to slay any mealtime. Potatoes are the gal who can do anything, from space exploration to your next merienda.

Even as a self-proclaimed veggie hater, I can admit that potatoes are the exception, the favorite, the queen.