POTATO SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 284, 29 August 1942, Page 10

POTATO SHORTAGE

Dietetic Substitutes SUPPLYING VITAMIN C Many housewives have been at their wits’ end, specially where they have children to consider, to meet the position arising from the shortage of ‘potatoes, and there has been a good deal of discussion as to best substitutes, both from the point of view of diet and also from the point of view of the palate. The following is a note specially prepared by the Wellington Public Hospital dietitian:— , “Though the potato contains a fairly large supply of starch, its chief value lies in its mineral and vitamin supply —with the quantities normally eaten it is a surprisingly valuable source of Vitamin C. Therefore, from a dietetic point of vieyv the foods which will best replace potato are all other vegetables, particularly the root vegetables, such as kumeras, parsnips, carrots and the common swede, which is an even better source of Vitamin C than the potato itself. Added fruits and more milk taken daily will also, from a dietary point of view, help to replace the potato. , “There is still the problem of finding a food which will provide the satisfying element. The most common tendency is, perhaps, to turn to white bread. This is a very unsatisfactory substitute as it supplies the starch only and none of the important factors. Such foods as dried blue peas, wholemeal bread, wholemeal macaroni, barley to serve with curries and stews (since rice is in short supply), wholemeal suet dumplings to serve with stews or boiled mutton, and Yorkshire pudding to serve with roast joints, are recommended. “The fact remains, however, that while these foods serve very well as ‘fillers’ in the diet, they are acid-form-ing, whereas potatoes along with other vegetables, milk and all fruits (including oranges, lemons and grapefruit) are alkali-forming and therefore much to be preferred. Hence the need to stress that while the inner man must he satisfied with bulky substitutes for potatoes there is added need in these times-to eat for health, and to realize that fruits, vegetables and milk, though expensive, give the best value for the money spent.” - -