Show POTATOES SAVE WHEAT americans if they would think of the humble potato as a breadstuff rather than merely as a vegetable would find that they could spare much bread from their diet without inconvenience veni ence the dietetic specialists of the united states department of agriculture point out the potato irish or sweet dlf differs ferr from almost all other common vegetables in that it supplies important amounts of starch and starch is the chief food element we get from bread green vegetables with which potatoes oi often are classed supply little or no starch and energy and are valuable in the diet principally for tho the mineral substances and acids they supply and for giving bulk to the diet potatoes of course supply valuable mineral substances useful in the building up repair and regulation of the body but they have won their great rait place in the diet of a lara large e part of the world because they supply starch which otherwise would have to be abt obtained from cereals the more potatoes you eat the less bread apu need at the same meal potatoes of course N contain a larger percentage of water than does docs bread so that weight for weight they are not equivalent to bread as a source of starch and energy As a general proposition ho however wever one medium sized potato 6 ounces would supply about as much starch as two medium sized slices of bread about 2 ounces five parts of potato are equal to one part of cereal in a mixed diet therefore those who make potatoes an important dish safely can cut down the amount of light or hot bread wheat or macaroni they eat at that meal and yet supply their bodies with this important food starch wherever potatoes are locally plentiful or relatively cheap es specially ally in the case of the early or summer crop which does not store well housewives are urged to use them plentifully at all meals as a substitute for wheat the more potatoes you eat the less bread you need at the same meal |