Potatoes Are As Good For Your Body As They Are For Your Wallet

When it comes to nutritious vegetables, a recent study says that potatoes give you the most bang for your buck. The research was led by director of the University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition, Adam Drewnowski, and was prompted by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) directive for school lunches to include more vegetables.

Specifically, the study paid attention to the correlation between nutrition and cost. Said Drewnowski, "Effectively, USDA is asking for healthier foods to be served, which is great. But they are not really providing the federal reimbursement."

Colin Rehm, a UW graduate student who assisted Drewnowski, added, "When you start adding vegetables to a diet, it really increases cost."

According to the research, potatoes are rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, and their nutritional value does not significantly alter whether they're fresh or canned. Grocery delivery service FreshDirect offers russet potatoes at 99 cents per pound. A current national report on potato prices can be found here.

Beans were ranked as the containing the second highest nutritional value with respect to their price.