Ask Dr. Potato

Healthy items on menus were once the bane of successful sales with customers looking at the heart check mark next to a listing on the menu and avoiding it at all costs. Now I find healthy choices are really boosting my sales and traffic and helping to counter the "no" vote when a group comes in for my indulgent burgers and fries. Any examples you might make for healthy potatoes?

I'm on a diet, but I don't want to cut out carbs. How should I fix a potato that's healthy and nutritious for me to eat?

For people trying to lose weight, there’s a debate about whether or not we should eat potatoes. I know potatoes are high in carbs, but I understand they are also very nutritious. Where can I find nutritional information of the different varieties of potatoes?

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I'm in my 50’s and have never made potato salad from scratch but that's the way it is. :-) I have two questions for you:  Can I cut up the potatoes (plain old brown potatoes) BEFORE I cook them and, if I do, HOW LONG more or less should I boil them? All the recipes seem to say “until soft” but they never actually give a time for me to check and it seems silly to stand next to the stove to poke a fork into the potatoes every couple of minutes. 10 minutes? 15? 20? Is there a good reason why the potatoes need to be peeled as long as I’ve scrubbed them clean?

Do mashed potatoes have less sugar than baked potatoes?

Recently, I was following a diet designed to lower my cholesterol. Accordingly, potatoes were listed as a “food to avoid” due to the starch content. After visiting your website, I am now confused as to whether or not I should include them in my diet. Can you please help?

Any recipes on how to use Idaho Potatoes as a crust for fish or other meats?

What suggestions can you make to include potatoes on the menu at breakfast time besides the usual home fries or hash brown patties? My clientele is bored with plain breakfast choices.  

What do you think about combining cauliflower and mashed potatoes? I know it is supposed to be healthier for you, but when I put the two together it was very bland. Any suggestions?

Does size matter when a recipe calls for small or medium potatoes? If so, what should I use?