Ahhh, carbohydrates. God are they good. Is there anything better than drowning your sorrows in a huge bowl of spaghetti and wine? What about hoeing into a takeaway fried rice when you’re deathly hungover? Or washing down a burger and fries with a good old-fashioned chocolate thickshake? Irresistible.
These meals are equally-as-delicious, but to be completely honest, nothing is more satisfying and comforting to eat than the OG carb – the humble potato.
This root vegetable is not only a staple in most households, but it’s incredibly versatile. Whether you like eating them crisply fried, richly mashed with butter and cream, baked and topped with sour cream, chives and bacon, or finely sliced and arranged in the perfect gratin – potatoes are the G.O.A.T when it comes to comfort food.
However, our relationship with carbs hasn’t always been picture perfect. As our social media feeds have become clogged with low-carb diet fads, kale salads, green juices and perfectly sculpted waistlines, feasting on carbs has become somewhat of a foodie faux-pas.
However, there is a silver lining to your carb-loaded cravings. According to WA Potatoes, potatoes are “better than bananas for potassium, out-do blueberries for Vitamin C, and are all over rice and pasta when it comes to fibre.”
So, if you’re ever hesitating to tuck into that a bowl of potato salad, remember how nourishing they actually are and think of Julia Roberts in the 2010 film Eat Pray Love. In one scene, Roberts’ character Elizabeth is at a pizza place with her travel buddy Sofi, who is reluctant to eat the pizza after gaining weight while holidaying in Italy.
“I’m so tired of saying no and waking up in the morning and recalling every single thing I ate the day before, counting every single calorie I consumed so I know how much self-loathing to take into the shower,” she says. “I have no interest in being obese, I’m just through with the guilt.”
Now, take the wise words of Julia Roberts, go forth and treat yourself to a potato or two. You deserve it.