Potatoes not 1 of 5 a day?

[johnk]

Why aren't potatoes counted as 1 of your 5 a day fruit and veg? They are veg aren't they?

[ummmm]

Carbs...

[chelle7272]

no htey're a carbohydrate like rice or pasta

[NoMercy]

They're classed as a starchy food.

[237SJ]

They`re still veg though...
Maybe the 5 a day theory is based on foods that contain antioxydants and potatos don`t contain those.

[237SJ]

*potatoes*

[chelle7272]

From NHS guidelines;

Do potatoes count towards 5 a Day?

Potatoes are a vegetable, but they don't count towards your 5 a Day.

Potatoes are classified nutritionally as a starchy food. That’s because the main nutrient in potatoes is starch (carbohydrate). Also, when eaten as part of a meal potatoes are generally used in place of other sources of starch, such as bread, pasta or rice.

Other vegetables that don’t count towards your 5 a Day are yams, cassava and plaintain: they are also usually eaten as starchy foods.

However, other root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, parsnips, swedes and turnips do count toward your 5 a Day, because they are usually eaten in addition to the starchy food part of the meal.

[johnk]

Thanks everyone, looks like I'll have to have an extra one a day. Is there any sort of portion size, does 1 grape count or 1 water melon!

[ummmm]

As a general rule I think it's a handful...

[cazzz1975]

I think about 10 grapes equates to a portion

[mccfluff]

whatever do you mean triggs

[rojash]

Following the "logic" of the NHS guidelines.
You could count potato as 1 of your five a day if you either:

Had two portions (1 as your starchy food, and one as an addition to your starchy food)

Had bread or pasta as your starchy food, plus potatoes as a vegetable.

[rowanwitch]

So a chip butty is ok?

[chelle7272]

lol rowan chip butties are always ok :-)

[emmie]

Nope sorry, starch, so you need things like broccoli, carrots, fruits, i know its not easy, because its what i have been trying to do for months, on advice from dietician

[Buenchico]

Portion sizes:
http://www.nhs.uk/Liv...ges/Portionsizes.aspx

[nungate]

Didn't carbs used to be called starch?

[sallybb]

Ooops apparently its now 8 a day

http://www.dailymail....nutrition-expert.html

[sallybb]

Don't think they really know

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8605270.stm

[Anngel123]

What I find interesting is that potatoes are classed as starch but sweetcorn, which is after all corn (a starch product) IS. What is the logic behind that?? And I don't want to hear any rude comments about them not being digested and coming out whole the other end. This only happens if you don't chew properly. I can understand if it is the skin that counts as roughage but then, surely, the skin on a potatoe would be roughage as well....answers on a postcard please LOL ;)