Potatoes -- one of today's favorite foods -- were once considered poisonous "devil's apples." Originally grown in the Peruvian Andes, papas were dismissed by the Spanish conquistadors as "primitive." But when food became scarce and the conquerors were forced to eat them, their opinion changed.
Europeans initially balked at these "edible stones." Farmers grew them, but only to feed their livestock.
Happy National Potato Day!
The potato's popularity began to rise after Frenchman Antoine Parmentier promoted their nutritional value, crediting the staple for his survival when he was imprisoned during the Seven Years' War. The potato enthusiast made sure Benjamin Franklin had a helping at a banquet in Paris in 1767. Impressed by their taste and versatility, the statesman spread the word back home and the potato effectively pushed turnips and rutabagas off the plate.
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Have a Good Day, June 2018)
A raw potato is 79% water,
17% carbohydrates (88% is starch),
2% protein, and contains negligible fat - wikipedia
And having food and raiment
let us be therewith content.
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