Potato growers around the country are fighting ban or limit of potatoes in federal child nutrition programs

Potato growers around the country are fighting back, against the ban or limit of potatoes in federal child nutrition programs, arguing the potatoe is loaded with potassium and vitamin C and shouldn’t be considered junk food.

Healthy food advocates said they’re not anti-potato, but they think children need a greater variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to fight a tripling of child obesity rates in the past 30 years. “The potato is the most common vegetable,” said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the School Nutrition Association. “Her impression is that the goal is to increase the amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. She doesn’t believe anyone is specifically attacking the potato.

The WIC program is a supplemental food program, and the determination was made that consumption of white potatoes was already adequate, said Christine Stencel, spokeswoman for the Institute of Medicine.”The recommendation was made to encourage consumption of other fruits and vegetables,” she said.Jean Daniel, spokeswoman for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, said the WIC program was updated for the first time in 30 years after a study showed more consumption of leafy greens and other veggies was needed.Whatever the USDA decides, potatoes won’t disappear from school lunches, although they might become less common, Daniel said,”It’s an opportunity to make healthy eating choices as varied as possible, and it’s a learning lesson for children about how to put a plate together that’s healthy and balanced,”