Pensive Thoughts

Barely three months after school started, we are already seeing how tough and taxing high school life can be for my 12-year-old son. Being a neophyte in a highly competitive school, we all knew that his high school journey wouldn’t be a walk in the park. His school days now are almost always loaded with school work and projects, sometimes leaving little time (or none at all) to review for the next day’s quizzes or to get a decent night’s sleep. Even his weekends are spent doing school requirements.

Now my son and I clearly understand what their Grade 6 Guidance Counselor had been telling them before they graduated from grade school. She told them not to expect the same grades that they were getting when they were still part of the advanced class in grade school. Indeed, high school is a totally different ball game. It is more demanding, more challenging and more exacting. And while my son enjoys spending time with his newfound friends, he is undoubtedly feeling the stress of adapting to a new school environment.

How I Help My Son Cope with High School Life
Stress can take toll on our body. To help ward off the negative effects of stress from my high schooler, I make sure he is well-fed and properly nourished. He needs to be healthy to be able to fulfill his school requirements. To avoid getting sick, I give him healthy dishes and delectable treats made from the highly nutritious superfood – the potato.

Potato Is a Superfood
There are people who believe that potatoes lack nutritional value, but that is far from the truth. In fact, potatoes are rich in nutrients that are beneficial to our health. Potatoes are packed with vitamin C (immunity booster), vitamin B6 (cognitive function enhancer), and potassium (muscle builder). The “high quality carbs” of potatoes also help optimize our physical and mental performance. They are also fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free. With all of these health benefits, potatoes can indeed boost our school kids’ nutrition and help protect them from diseases that may otherwise prevent them from performing well in school.

The Versatility of Potatoes
Worried that your kids will get tired of eating potatoes? Don’t be! Because potatoes are versatile ingredients, your children will surely crave for more. You can serve them in many different ways. You can fry them, bake them, mash them, boil them or grill them. You can also mix them in soups or stews, in salads, in main dishes, and even in desserts. We can also make native delicacies or kakanin with potatoes.

Potatoes USA, an organization that has thankfully brought US frozen, US tablestock (fresh) and US dehydrated potatoes to our shores, offers a lot of options for potato meals. The organization, together with Chef Kristine Lotilla, recently visited the culinary club of Diliman Preparatory School in Quezon City to demonstrate the versatility of potatoes.

With their own mashed potato kit, Chef Kristine showed the students how to rehydrate the dehydrated potatoes. They also prepared two yummy recipes: Broccoli Cheddar Potato Puffs and Chocolate Mashed Potato Truffles. The students were then challenged to try their own potato dishes at home.

As you can see, we can make our school kids healthier and happier by preparing delectable potato dishes and treats. By so doing, we are showing our children that there is so much more to power snacking and right eating than just avoiding sweets.

High quality US potatoes in a wide variety can be purchased from major supermarkets and groceries nationwide. For more information on US potatoes, visit www.potatogoodness.com or like and follow Potatoes USA-Philippines on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines.