WHY CENTER YOUR PLATE AROUND STARCH? My top three reasons:

1. Starch is foundational food. When we study history we realize that all healthy populations of humans included starch. Many cultures relied on starch as primary source of calories because meat and dairy was expensive and less accessible. Meat and dairy products were used to enhance the flavor, not be the main focus. Think about how starch, ie.potatoes, are linked to Irish culture. Can you think of other examples?

2. The book, The Potato Hack by Tim Steele, discusses how in 1849, humans would eat steamed potatoes for 3 days to reset their bodies and offset indulgent habits. Humans have known they feel better eating starch for a long time. Don’t take me word for it- try it!

3. Satiety is the feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating. It regulates appetite and prevents overeating because it takes longer for hunger to return. Potatoes are the number one vegetable food on the satiety scale. Eating these nutrient dense tubers helps reduce cravings and go longer between meals. So it makes sense that eating three days of the number one satiety food will make you feel truly well fed or sated.

You will also realize you are almost, always, 20 minutes from all you can eat, Crispy Seasoned Air Fried Potatoes, or 2 minutes from a leftover steamed potatoes and 5 minutes from microwaved steamed potatoes.  Being able to eat food quickly helps establish food security.

There is enough fat in the potato to meet your nutritional needs for the meals, but small amounts avocado can be used to add healthy whole food plant fat if you have concerns.

Please be aware you have increased the calorie count and may slow weight loss if that is one of your health goals.

My real life example of the joy of potatoes.

I LOVE chips and fries!

Once, when I was 12, I rode my bike to the store, and with my babysitting money, I bought myself the biggest bag of my favorite potato chips, Goods brand, a small company up near my hometown in PA. (mmm..crispy, perfectly thickness, light and golden, perfect salt balance, no ridges or waves, …mmm,.. sorry, I digress).

I was so excited, I started eating them as I was riding home. By the time I got to the driveway, Whoa- you guessed it, for the first time in my life, I had eaten an entire “Party-size” bag of potato chips. (Smaller than current party size bags because this was in the late 70s, but still more than one serving!)

Hmmm. Wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

Did I regret it?

No way! They were delicious and filling. But, I did feel guilty and I wasn’t sure why.

However, I do know that if someone asked me, as Dr. McDougall does, if I could eat french fries (or chips) to feel better, lose weight, improve my health and WITHOUT guilt or shame, would I? The answer is: Absolutely YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe many other people would answer the same way.

Who wouldn’t rather eat potatoes, especially french fries, than suffer from disease?

Even mediocre air fries. without oil.

Which, the fries I make aren’t “mediocre”. Because the more often you make them, the better you get at making them taste just the way you like them: Really GOOD!

But, it takes time. That’s why we have pizza too! That’s right! Try taco pizza or garlic hummus pizza. Or Jersey tomato pie. Or lentil sloppy joes, or pasta marinara. Or lasagna. If you have a sweet tooth, we have chocolate or vanilla mug cake, or chocolate pudding, rice pudding, cherry nice cream, and cookies! We have oatmeal cookies and almond cookies.. all types.

You have to be willing to experiment. It might take you a few taste tests.

I think you’ll be okay.

See what I’m saying? You will be enjoying your food too much to miss anything!

NOT JUST POTATOES.. but hey-try the potatoes!

While you can eat crispy air fried potatoes, or steamed potatoes for every meal, this is not just a potato diet.

This is a starch centered diet where potatoes happen to be one of the choices. I. have done the 3 day potato hack and found it liberating. I recommend trying it if you want to experience total satiation. However, you can enjoy a bit more variety and get similar results.