Potatoes are deservedly considered the second bread in our country. But most nutritionists do not recommend eating it in large quantities due to the high content of starch and simple carbohydrates in the vegetable, which are easily deposited on the sides in the form of a layer of fat. Therefore, it is necessary to figure out whether it is possible to eat potatoes during pregnancy?
Historically, potatoes in various forms are included in our almost daily diet. At first glance it may seem that there is nothing or practically nothing useful in it, but this is not entirely true. Firstly, potatoes are a fairly filling product, containing 70-75 kcal per 100 g. In addition, tubers have virtually no fat, but do contain protein (2 g per 100 g) and, of course, carbohydrates - 16 g per 100 g, there is a lot of water in them. Potatoes are rich in the following microelements: potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, copper phosphorus, etc. The vegetable also contains vitamins - ascorbic acid (an excellent antioxidant), vitamins H, PP, A, as well as some from group B. Especially Vitamin B9 or folic acid is important during pregnancy, which is important for the expectant mother during the planning period and in the first trimester, when the fetal nervous system is developing.
Potatoes during early pregnancy, due to their satiety, help maintain the body's strength during toxicosis.
From the above, we can conclude that potatoes can be eaten during pregnancy and are even healthy, you just need to choose the right type of preparation for this product. So, the most useful thing during pregnancy is semi-liquid mashed potatoes, especially for those expectant mothers who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This dish has a coating effect on the intestines; it creates an alkaline environment, reducing the acidity of the stomach.
Mashed potatoes also bind and remove toxins, acids and some harmful substances (toxins) from the body. Baked potatoes are also beneficial during pregnancy. Tubers that are prepared in this way along with the peel have a positive effect on the body, as it contains a large amount of potassium and magnesium, which are necessary for the heart and cardiovascular system as a whole.
As has already become clear, potatoes are a very high-calorie product, so they should be consumed with caution, that is, limit potatoes during pregnancy. This statement is especially relevant for women who are prone to gaining excess weight. It must also be said that potatoes, due to the large amount of sugar (starch) they contain, are contraindicated for pregnant women who suffer from diabetes or other pancreatic diseases.
When carrying a child, you need to be especially careful when choosing products. Eating potato tubers that have turned green is strictly prohibited not only for expectant mothers, but for all people. The fact is that in such products, during chemical reactions, a substance such as solanine was formed - an alkaloid, a toxic substance that can cause poisoning of the body. It is clear that eating poisoned foods will not bring anything good to a pregnant woman and her child.
It is also important to take a responsible approach to the way you prepare potatoes. As already mentioned, its healthiest form is mashed potatoes and baked potatoes. By “mashed” we mean that the potatoes are cooked and mashed yourself. You should not use dry puree (semi-finished product) during pregnancy. The thing is. That there is practically nothing useful in such a product, but there is a lot that is harmful: such products are 90% composed of substances produced in the chemical industry, with the addition of trans fats. French fries can be considered “forbidden” during pregnancy, as they are a high-calorie product, especially harmful for women suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.
Biologist, geneticist Natalya Kotova
Tobacco, poisonous nightshade, etc. Due to its high starch content, it is called second bread. However, there are also baked goods made from potatoes, but that’s not what we’re talking about...
Do you really think you know everything about potatoes? They say it’s a familiar product, a second bread.
American gold miners valued potatoes even more than gold itself.
What do you want - the north of North America, vitamin deficiency, Alaska with its difficult living conditions, scurvy. So this root vegetable, which was worth almost as much as gold, saved the adventurers.
But inside a pregnant woman grows a miracle that is more valuable than any gold. So why shouldn't you eat potatoes during pregnancy? It’s possible, of course, because it’s useful.
Potatoes - “Live Healthy!” program
Potatoes during pregnancy
Indications and contraindications
Firstly, don’t think that there are no vitamins here. Yes, and how! And S, and N, and RR, B in full force.
Particular attention can be paid to it, which is not available everywhere, but is so necessary for the growing baby inside, because it will protect him from troubles with the nervous system.
And it’s not just about vitamins: there is also a whole company of microelements
, including potassium, which the mother needs for the proper functioning of the heart, and with phosphorus, which form the future musculoskeletal system of the baby, and sodium, and, and bromine, and fluorine (and what else is needed so that the expectant mother does not collapse Are the baby’s teeth formed healthy?), copper, .
By the way, potassium
, without which it is impossible to regulate the water-salt balance in the body, will help to avoid such troubles for many pregnant women as: potassium will not only remove all unnecessary fluid from the tissues, but will also not allow new fluid to accumulate.
In addition, this representative of nightshades is also rich in antioxidants.
, which means it protects the expectant mother from colds and helps preserve her youth and beauty.
Yes, and there is enough protein in it. Potatoes remove toxins and acids and alkalize the body.
Why might it be harmful?
Everything said above about potatoes relates only to young tubers. The old ones, at best, are rich in starch, which is not good, and at worst...
But let's start in order. Firstly, in addition to protein and microelements, potatoes contain carbohydrates and fats
, secondly -
76 kcal.
per 100 g .
And if you stew or fry it, the calorie content will not decrease, but vice versa. In addition, starch usually transforms into fat
. So, those who are prone to obesity, especially while expecting a child, should not eat too many potatoes, of course.
And in general, old potatoes are a very heavy food and it is not useful for anyone, and even more so for expectant mothers. Nobody needs a source of empty calories. You can’t eat it for dinner either, because this product often causes fermentation in the intestines.
Potatoes are contraindicated
and to those mothers who suffer from.
Can pregnant women eat fried potatoes?
Can pregnant women eat potatoes?
Potatoes are one of those products without which a traditional menu is simply unthinkable. It is included in countless dishes and is often eaten on its own - as a simple and satisfying side dish. However, it is considered to be one of the most useless vegetables, containing nothing but empty calories. Such dishes during pregnancy, of course, should be avoided, because they do not bring anything to the body, but only lead to the gain of additional kilograms. But is this opinion true for potatoes?
Potatoes during pregnancy: benefits and harms
Potatoes actually contain quite a large amount of starch and simple carbohydrates, which, when consumed in excess, tend to turn into fatty deposits, which is not desirable for women during pregnancy, since they are already prone to weight gain. 100g of potatoes contains approximately 76 kcal, 16g of carbohydrates, 2 of protein and 0.5 of fat. However, it cannot be said that potatoes are “empty” and a completely useless product. It is rich not only in calories, which, by the way, are relatively few (a banana, for example, has 96 kcal per 100g), but also in vitamins. Including quite rare ones, such as B9 - folic acid, the additional intake of which is prescribed to all pregnant women without exception in the early stages. A lack of folic acid leads to disturbances in the development of the fetal nervous system and may interfere with the proper formation of the placenta. Therefore, it is very important that a pregnant woman receives this substance not only in the form of tablets, but also with food.
In addition, potatoes contain other B vitamins, antioxidants such as vitamins A and C, which help cleanse the body, maintain youthful and healthy skin and increase the body's resistance to infectious diseases, vitamins E, K and PP.
Among the minerals necessary for the full functioning of the body, potassium and sodium can be found in potatoes, which help regulate water-salt balance (prevent edema) and support the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which bears a double load during pregnancy. Calcium and fluorine to strengthen bones, teeth, and form the baby’s skeleton. Iron, involved in the hematopoietic process (necessary for the formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells) and necessary for the prevention of anemia. Iodine for the health of the thyroid gland and the synthesis of its hormones. In addition, potatoes contain phosphorus, copper, zinc and chromium in small quantities.
Like most vegetables and fruits, this root vegetable is rich in fiber (plant fiber), which is useful for cleansing the intestines, normalizing its functioning and preventing constipation. And liquid mashed potatoes, especially in combination with fish or other vegetables, are very good for the stomach, especially in case of exacerbation
Methods of use
In order to get only benefits from potatoes during pregnancy, you need to cook them correctly.
.
For example, it makes no sense to cook it in very cold water: such potatoes lose the most useful substances during cooking.
Expectant mothers should not fry or stew potatoes: it is better to steam or bake them. Do not cook it using too much fat or oil.
During pregnancy, it is more important than ever to cut out all the eyes and cut off all the green areas.
, and it’s better not to cook potatoes with such features at all.
Eat it as a liquid puree
It will be useful for those mothers who experience problems with the gastrointestinal tract during such an important period. It is better to combine potatoes with salads and fish and eat them in small portions.
Yes, you can not only cook it. Yes, potato juice
It helps a lot with such a problem that is typical for expectant mothers, like
gastritis
. Of course, it’s impossible to buy potato juice in a store, but what about a juicer?
You can drink half a glass of potato juice before meals (about an hour). Course - 10 days.
For colds
it can soften the throat without causing harm or disrupting the baby's development. Mix the juice with the infusion and gargle several times a day: starch in combination with an antiseptic softens the throat and treats tonsils.
Potatoes can also be used to treat skin lesions and burns.
: After all, during pregnancy the skin becomes especially tender and sensitive. You can simply apply a cut vegetable to the affected area, or you can make a compress from juice and gruel.
Relieve puffiness and bags under the eyes
potatoes will help too. Grate the fruit on a fine grater and squeeze out the juice. Now you can put the pulp under your eyes and wait 10 minutes.
In a slow cooker or pressure cooker
French fries in a pressure cooker are much healthier than fried foods in a frying pan. Of course, one cannot say that this is a storehouse of vitamins, but there will be no harm to the pancreas.
So, what do we need to make our own French fries?
- About 8 potato tubers;
- up to 600 ml of oil;
- salt;
- add pepper to taste.
Cooking:
- Of course, the potatoes should be peeled and washed first.
- Cut into strips.
- Rinse well in cold water to remove the starch.
- Next comes the most interesting part. Pour oil into the bowl of a multicooker or pressure cooker.
- We take a special grill for fries and put potatoes with spices there.
- Set the multicooker to the “Fry” mode and wait until the oil warms up.
- Lower the grill with potatoes into the oil and cook for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Place on paper towels to absorb some of the fat.
Precautionary measures
never eat potatoes that have already sprouted or turned green.
. Such vegetables not only have no benefit, but also a lot of harm.
Old potatoes accumulate a lot of harmful substances, but the most dangerous of them is solanine.
A large number of delicious dishes are prepared from potatoes. 100 grams of product contains only 76 calories. However, potatoes should be eaten in moderation during pregnancy. It contains quite a lot of starch and simple carbohydrates, which are converted into fats in the body.
Contraindications to eating raw potatoes
You should not eat raw potatoes if:
- severe forms of diabetes;
- exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases;
- gastritis with low acidity.
Some people, after trying potato mush, complain of an upset stomach or other unpleasant symptoms. In such cases, the harm of raw potatoes is explained either by the use of large amounts of pesticides and mineral fertilizers during cultivation, or by the individual characteristics of the organism.
Raw potatoes are not a panacea, but a good vitamin supplement. To treat serious illnesses, you should consult a doctor.
Vegetable composition
Nutrients are present in potatoes in ideal proportions. The vegetable contains amino acids, starch, fiber, fructose, and mineral salts. Potatoes also contain iron, nickel, iodine, manganese, and cobalt.
The vegetable is rich in B vitamins, vitamins E, K, PP. Potato tubers contain sterols, organic acids, and carotene.
Potatoes should be eaten by people who experience severe physical exertion, accompanied by increased sweating. The vegetable helps lower blood pressure. Potato juice speeds up the healing process of ulcers in the abdominal area and relieves pain.
Can children eat raw potatoes?
Even very young children love to chew on freshly peeled potatoes. Kids have not yet acquired “adult” bad habits and have not forgotten how to listen to the needs of the body. If a child loves raw potatoes, it means that he lacks some useful substances that are in this root vegetable.
But don’t panic and run to the pharmacy and buy multivitamins. It is better to add more other vegetables to your baby’s diet and make sure that the child does not eat too many raw potatoes, and that the tubers are fresh, thoroughly washed and do not contain solanine.
Children can eat raw potatoes in small quantities.
Beneficial properties of potatoes during pregnancy
The vegetable contains folic acid, which prevents the appearance of defects in the nervous system in the unborn baby. Potatoes also contain substances such as phosphorus and calcium. They are necessary for the proper formation of the musculoskeletal system of the unborn child.
Potato juice helps fight heartburn, which often occurs during pregnancy. It should be drunk approximately 60 minutes before meals. The duration of the treatment course is at least ten days.
What are the benefits of potato juice?
Potato juice, which is underestimated by many, actually has many beneficial properties.
Freshly squeezed potato juice is an effective remedy in the treatment of gastritis, colitis, stomach and duodenal ulcers. For these diseases, it is recommended to drink half a glass of potato juice three times a day for a month. Potatoes with red skin are the most preferred for treating these diseases.
For peptic ulcers, it is recommended to drink the juice together with carrot juice.
According to research by scientists, potatoes contain substances that are several times more effective against bacteria that cause stomach ulcers and suppress their growth. In addition, potato juice has no side effects, unlike medications.
Its anti-inflammatory properties help in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism, lumbago and back pain.
It dissolves and removes salts, preventing deposits of uric acid in the joints.
This juice can prevent constipation and improve the functioning of the digestive system.
It promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing fermentation processes in the intestines.
Potato juice is useful for preventing heart disease. Due to the presence of potassium, it lowers blood pressure.
In some cases, it can be drunk in cases of poisoning as a detoxifying agent; it cleanses the liver.
Potato juice promotes weight loss, as it is a low-calorie product.
Freshly squeezed potato juice is useful in the treatment of kidney diseases and pancreatitis, diabetes, and prevents the formation of stones in the urinary tract.
This juice is used to treat headaches and migraines.
Medicinal recipes
Potatoes can be used to treat sore throat during pregnancy. It quickly eliminates pain in the throat. The vegetable is not capable of harming the baby's health. To prepare a solution for gargling, you need to mix potato juice with chamomile infusion. The medicinal herb has pronounced antiseptic properties. It perfectly softens the throat. Rinsing should be done twice a day.
The vegetable is used to treat burns and cuts on the skin:
- You just need to moisten a small piece of gauze in potato juice.
- The compress is applied to the damaged area of the body.
The duration of the procedure is at least 10 minutes.
If a pregnant woman wants to get rid of dark circles under her eyes
, she needs to grate the potatoes using a fine-hole grater. The juice is squeezed out of the resulting pulp. The potato pulp is placed under the eyes for ten minutes.
For a cold
and respiratory diseases, you can use a time-tested folk remedy. You need to boil the vegetable in its “uniform” and drain all the water from the pan. Then the pregnant woman needs to cover her head with a towel and inhale the hot potato steam.
Uses of potato flowers
Potato flowers contain vitamin B1. It helps get rid of irritability and anxiety. Potato flowers are actively used in folk medicine to treat pathologies of the organs of vision and cancer. They also help fight tonsillitis.
The infusion for gargling is prepared according to the following scheme:
- 10 grams of dried potato flowers are poured into 200 ml of boiling water.
- The product must be infused for at least two hours.
- After this, the drink must be cooled and strained.
The resulting infusion is used to gargle. The procedure is carried out twice a day. The approximate duration of the treatment course is approximately 14 days. After a month's break, it is allowed to resume treatment.
Potato juice for weight loss
Potatoes are classified as high-calorie foods. True, forgetting that most of the calories are provided not by the tuber itself, but by related products in the form of oil, fat, etc. What does potato juice do for weight loss?
Firstly, like any other juice, this juice helps remove waste, toxins from the body, and relieve swelling.
Secondly, freshly squeezed juice helps improve metabolism and normalize the functioning of the digestive system.
Thirdly, it helps get rid of dysbiosis, which improves the intestinal microflora, and, consequently, metabolic processes.
Nutritionists recommend drinking potato juice in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening one or two hours before bedtime. You should always prepare fresh juice. This juice cannot be stored; it quickly oxidizes and loses all its beneficial and medicinal properties.
It is recommended to drink from 100 to 150 grams of juice at one time for two weeks. Then you need to take a break and repeat the course.
Vegetable harm
A pregnant woman is not recommended to eat potatoes that have already sprouted or turned green. There is no benefit to such a vegetable. Old potatoes accumulate a lot of harmful substances, including poisonous solanine. This substance can cause premature termination of pregnancy. Solanine depresses the nervous system of the unborn child, causing various malformations of the child. The substance is dangerous to the body. Solanine can cause the following undesirable symptoms:
- general weakness;
- headache;
- difficulty breathing;
- nausea;
- stomach upset.
Solanine is slowly eliminated from the body. Therefore, if adverse signs of poisoning appear, you should seek medical help.
Potatoes contain high concentrations of starch. Therefore, it is not recommended for overweight women and patients with diabetes.
But a pregnant woman, like any person, has small weaknesses. If she really wants to eat some boiled potatoes with dill, you can use a little trick: leave the vegetable in cool water for several hours. This is necessary so that the starch is released from the potatoes.
Contraindications
The daily portion of potatoes should not exceed 200-300g, but only in cases where it is not recommended to completely avoid this vegetable. For example, when:
- diabetes (including gestational);
- tendency to be overweight or obese;
- diseases of the liver and pancreas;
- increased stomach acidity and other gastrointestinal diseases (fried potatoes should be especially avoided).
Potatoes can pose a danger to pregnant women, even those who do not suffer from any of the above diseases, if they are included in their diet on a regular basis. Due to the large amount of starch, this vegetable promotes rapid weight gain. This can be avoided if you choose light-colored tubers (the core should be white, not yellow), they contain the least starch, and, therefore, harmful calories.
How to cook a delicious potato dish?
It is useful for expectant mothers suffering from diseases of the digestive organs to eat semi-liquid mashed potatoes. It goes perfectly with fish dishes and vegetable salads.
Vegetables can be used to make delicious cutlets
.
- Add one egg and finely chopped green onions to the pre-prepared mashed potatoes.
- All ingredients are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.
- Cutlets are formed from the resulting mass. They need to be rolled in a small amount of flour.
- The cutlets should be fried for 4 minutes on each side.
Potatoes will also make a delicious casserole with minced meat.
. The dish is prepared as follows:
- First you need to peel the potatoes and carrots.
- Vegetables are grated on a grater with small holes.
- Then add one finely chopped onion, 2 raw chicken eggs and salt to taste.
- All components are thoroughly mixed.
- Then you need to finely chop the second onion. It is added to minced meat made from chicken fillet.
- The next step is to grease the baking dish with vegetable oil.
- Place half of the vegetable mass on it.
- The next step is to make small meatballs from the minced meat. They are carefully laid out on the vegetable layer.
- Place the remaining mixture on the meatballs. It is evenly distributed over the baking dish.
- After this, you need to put the dish in a preheated oven. It is cooked at a temperature of 180 degrees, approximately 50 minutes.
- 10 minutes before turning off the oven, it is recommended to sprinkle the casserole with finely chopped cheese.
Crispy snack in the deep fryer
Above, we have already considered the option of preparing French fries in a special device for them - a deep fryer. Now let's talk about this in more detail. The deep fryer is sold either separately or built into many multicookers and pressure cookers. It consists of a bowl for oil and a grate for food. To prepare fries in such a device you need a lot of oil. However, you shouldn’t feel sorry for it for the sake of such a crispy crust. So, let's get ready.
Products:
- half a kilo of potatoes;
- oils for deep frying up to 1 liter;
- spices.
Manufacturing:
- Heat the oil in the deep fryer to a temperature of 160-180 degrees.
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes of the desired size.
- Place the pieces on the grill and lower them into hot oil for 10-15 minutes.
- Dry on paper napkins.
Potatoes during pregnancy: benefits and harms
It is not for nothing that potatoes have become one of the popular root vegetables, which have become so firmly entrenched in the traditional and national cuisine of many countries. Over the long period of its use, there was no more worthy competitor that could compare with potatoes. A kilogram of raw vegetables can replace a person’s daily dose of ascorbic acid, vitamins, and minerals.
However, during pregnancy, in order to provide exceptional benefits to the child and the mother’s body, it is worth paying attention to the variety of tubers, their calorie content and genetic characteristics of the variety, and the degree of ripeness. Some starchy varieties are ideal for making homemade chips, but are not recommended for consumption by pregnant women.
Potatoes help normalize metabolic processes in the body, remove salts and excess fluid without an acute diuretic effect.
Benefits for pregnant women:
- High calorie content, which is contraindicated for overweight pregnant women.
- In combination with animal fats (meat) it forms harmful trans fats.
- Large amounts of starch can cause gas in the intestines.
- People with diabetes (including gestational diabetes) should first consult a doctor.
- If you have high stomach acidity, potato dishes should also be limited.
If a potato has a green crust, it is recommended to cut it off completely, since this feature indicates the presence of a toxic component in the fruit - solanine, which is formed in potatoes and can cause intoxication.
Benefit
- Potatoes are one of the leading vegetables in terms of potassium content. Potassium
helps regulate water-salt balance in the body. It helps to remove excess fluid, which helps to avoid its accumulation in tissues, and therefore prevents the appearance. - It contains enough vitamin C
, which, being an antioxidant, eliminates the effects of free radicals, protecting cells from damage, stimulates the immune system and helps in the fight against. - B vitamins
are necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system of the expectant mother, and also have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the baby. - Phosphorus is
an important element involved in absorption by the body, which helps maintain the strength of the skeletal system. - Magnesium
in combination with vitamin B 6 reduces reflex excitability of muscle tissue, reduces irritability, fights sleep disorders and has a beneficial effect on heart function.
important
All of the above properties are inherent mainly in young potatoes. In addition, the method of its preparation plays an important role. To get the maximum benefit from potatoes, it is recommended to eat them baked or boiled in their skins, in other words, in their “jackets”.
What is the best way to eat potatoes?
It is impossible to talk about the benefits and harms of such a popular vegetable without determining its preparation.
So, the well-known fact that fries are harmful is undeniable. But if you really want fried potatoes with a crust and aromatic caramelized onions, this is not a reason to deny yourself the pleasure. You just need to monitor the volume of portions and time of consumption.
Boiled or stewed
Stewed potatoes in the oven or boiled as mashed potatoes are an excellent option for dinner or lunch. However, it is worth remembering the dangers of carcinogens that are formed when butter or sunflower oil is added to potatoes. At high temperatures, such fats are harmful to the body and can provoke mutations in the fetus and digestive upset in the mother. The best option is to stew peeled potatoes in the oven with the addition of oil after the dish has cooled to 80 degrees.
In uniform
The largest amount of fiber in potatoes is found in and around its skin; there is no fiber in the center of the vegetable. Therefore, if you boil potatoes in their jackets, cool them and pour sunflower oil on them, it will be an excellent dinner for those women who have diseases of the pancreas, stomach, as well as for those mothers who watch their figure.
An excellent option for preparing an unusual potato dish is to wash the tubers, rub them with a fork so that streaks remain and bake in the oven. The resulting crust will be fried and crispy, and the potatoes themselves will retain maximum benefits.
Fried
Heat treatment in sunflower oil makes such a vegetable not only useless for the health of the mother, but also dangerous for her unborn child. The thing is that when oil (vegetable or animal) comes into contact, carcinogens accumulate in potatoes, which are harmful to the development of the fetus in utero.
However, if you really want to eat such a dish, you can use healthy oil - corn, flaxseed, olive. The potatoes will taste a little different. But the benefits of such a dish are obvious. Also, do not forget about portions, which should not exceed 200-300 grams.
Fries
French fries are thinly cut long potato sticks that are completely boiled in boiling sunflower oil. In addition to the fact that 100 grams of such a delicacy has about 450 calories, it can also cause food indigestion, indigestion, diarrhea, pancreatitis and other unpleasant diseases that are a risk during pregnancy.
For these and many other reasons, it is worth completely excluding fries from the diet of the expectant mother. Apart from extra pounds, such a dish will bring nothing to a woman.
The yellower the cut potato, the more calories and starch it contains, and therefore it is recommended to choose light-colored tubers with white flesh.
In the microwave
This microwave french fries recipe is great for those who may not be able to cook in an oven, slow cooker, or have little time. It cooks quickly here.
So what do we need to take?
- The main component is 2-3 pieces;
- sunflower oil 1.5-2 tablespoons;
- salt;
- black or red pepper to choose from.
Cooking:
- Peel and wash the potatoes.
- Cut into medium sized strips. If there is a thick piece, it will not bake. If it’s thin, it will dry out.
- Rinse with cold water and dry.
- Afterwards, put everything in a container, pour in oil, add spices and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- Take a container that is suitable for the microwave and lay out the cubes. Set the power to maximum and bake for 4-6 minutes. Then carefully turn it over and bake for the same number of minutes.
IMPORTANT: the cubes should not touch each other in order to bake well on all sides.
Why do you always crave fried potatoes, and what can you replace them with?
Fried potatoes are a favorite dish for those who are used to cooking everything in a hurry. However, during pregnancy, you should pay attention to the fact that a constant insatiable desire to eat fried potatoes may be associated with diseases of the thyroid gland, kidneys and other organs.
In addition, do not forget that a fried, crispy crust for the human brain is a kind of drug to which one becomes accustomed. The more you eat fried potatoes in a frying pan, the more you want them.
You can usefully replace potatoes with the following products:
- Jerusalem artichoke;
- cauliflower;
- parsnip.
Cooking from frozen semi-finished product
Frozen French fries are often found on supermarket shelves. An undeniable advantage is that it does not need to be cleaned, cut, or washed. What's the best way to cook it? This option is prepared both in the oven and in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Choose the appropriate method for yourself.
- A bag of frozen potatoes (or loose);
- Spices.
Cooking:
- The first option
for cooking a frozen semi-finished product will be in the oven. Quite a convenient way. Preheat the oven to 210 degrees. Place the potatoes on a dry baking sheet and place in the oven. Cook for about half an hour, shaking or turning constantly. - The second option
is suitable for those who have a deep fryer. Everything is simple here. Heat the oil and lower the grill with frozen potatoes for 10-15 minutes. You will get crispy golden potatoes.
How to calculate safe potato servings for pregnant women
No matter what they say about the dangers of some dishes, sometimes it is difficult to refuse them. But this is not necessary. Remember the rule of the golden mean: not everything is good if it is in excess, and even the most useful medicine in large quantities is poison. Therefore, if you want to eat potatoes, but are afraid of the consequences, you should adhere to the basic rules:
- the portions are small - no more than 250 grams will not harm;
- do not season the puree with cheap analogues of oil with a huge amount of palm spread;
- If possible, do not fry potatoes in butter or sunflower oil;
- It is better to choose boiled potatoes baked in the oven.
To minimize the harm from potatoes during pregnancy, it is worth remembering the number of servings and their calorie content. So, 200 grams of potatoes fried in oil (small portion) contain approximately 500-800 calories, while boiled potatoes in the same amount only 160-250.
What exactly the potatoes were seasoned with plays a huge role. Butter itself contains a lot of calories, but if you combine it with starch, which is found in tubers, this increases the likelihood of gaining a few extra pounds.
Potatoes have become a popular vegetable for most families. However, pregnant women who are watching their weight and want to give birth to a healthy baby should be more selective when creating a menu. Potatoes will not hurt in this diet, but pay attention to boiled dishes and baked tubers in the oven without fat and oil.
Golden pieces in a frying pan
This option for making fries can be called classic. The only drawback, compared to previous cooking recipes, is that you need to constantly monitor the potatoes so that they do not burn. So let's get started.
Ingredients:
- about 7 potatoes;
- frying oil;
- favorite spices.
Cooking:
- Of course, we clean, wash, and cut. We make the pieces of medium size so that they do not dry out, but are also fried.
- Dry well with a paper towel. This is important because water in hot oil can burn you.
- Pour quite a lot of oil into the pan, and then, when it is very hot, add the potatoes. TIP: Fry in small batches to keep it crispy.
- We take it out and place it on paper napkins to absorb all the excess fat.
- Sprinkle with spices and enjoy.
Useful video
It is difficult to imagine our life without such a product as potatoes. You can prepare many dishes from it: casseroles, potato pancakes, roasts, stews...even ordinary soup is not complete without potatoes. We eat it boiled, fried, whole and pureed, and starting from a young age. However, nutritionists do not recommend eating potatoes. Although it does not contain many calories, the starchy substances and carbohydrates contained in it are easily transformed into fat. As you probably already know, the expectant mother definitely needs to monitor her weight gain; deviations from the norm may indicate the presence of health problems. Therefore, sudden weight gain is not a positive factor for the expectant mother. That is why we will talk today about the advisability of eating potatoes during pregnancy.
The benefits and harms of potatoes during pregnancy
One hundred grams of potatoes account for seventy-six kilocalories.
Among them are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins C, PP, A, H, B6, B5, B2, B9. Potatoes boast the presence of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, fluorine, chromium and iodine. Based on the composition, it can be stated that the dish is very satisfying, but it must be consumed in reasonable quantities. Folic acid, which is found in potatoes, will help protect your unborn baby from possible defects in the development of the nervous system, potassium will protect the reliable functioning of the mother’s heart. Phosphorus and calcium are involved in the formation of the child’s musculoskeletal system, and antioxidants prevent possible diseases. Liquid puree is very useful for the expectant mother, especially if she is faced with gastrointestinal problems. An excellent property of potatoes is its ability to cleanse the body, fight acids, toxins, and waste. Why can potatoes harm an expectant mother? If you eat stewed and fried potatoes from morning to night, this threatens to gain weight. This is especially true for women who quickly gain weight. By eating potatoes at night, you risk causing fermentation in the intestines, which will not have the best effect on your nighttime well-being. Don't get carried away with fat when frying potatoes. In general, the ideal option for the expectant mother is a boiled or baked product.
Fruits that have already sprouted are very dangerous. They produce toxic salonin, which is also found in green fruits. Be careful, don't put yourself in danger! If you suffer from diabetes, you will also have to forget about potatoes. Old potatoes contain a lot of starch, so the body has difficulty digesting them. If you can’t deny yourself potatoes, try to combine them with vegetables, fish, meat, and salads. Don't go overboard with the quantity. Potatoes are used not only for cooking, but also for medicinal purposes. It is useful for expectant mothers to know about this, because many medications are prohibited during pregnancy. If you suffer from gastritis or heartburn, you need to undergo treatment with potato juice. You need to drink one hundred grams before meals, about an hour, the course lasts ten days. To combat sore throat and tonsillitis, as well as simple throat inflammation, mix chamomile infusion with potato juice in a one-to-one ratio and gargle.
Your tonsils will feel much better and you will find it easier to swallow. Raw potatoes can be applied to burns to relieve unpleasant symptoms, and can also be used to eliminate bruises under the eyes, which are common among expectant mothers. To do this, grate the potatoes and apply the paste under your eyes for ten minutes. As you can see, potatoes during pregnancy can be quite useful, both for external use and for food purposes, the most important thing is to approach their use wisely.
Pregnant women can also use the beneficial properties of potatoes for medicinal purposes. For example, for gastritis and heartburn, which often plagues pregnant women, you can drink freshly squeezed vegetable juice. They drink it 100 grams an hour before meals for ten days. Often, expectant mothers suffer from colds and sore throats (tonsillitis).
Potato juice can be used to treat a sore throat and make swallowing easier. It is combined with chamomile infusion 1:1 and gargled. The antiseptic effect of chamomile in combination with the starchy substances of potatoes produces a healing effect on the tonsils. Often, expectant mothers have to deal with skin damage and burns while preparing food. In such cases, compresses made from potato pulp will be indispensable. You can immediately apply a cut potato tuber to the burn. Expectant mothers using potatoes externally will help remove bags under the eyes. They appear in pregnant women suffering from swelling in the morning. For this purpose, clean potatoes should be grated on a fine grater. Lightly squeeze out the juice and apply as a paste under the eyes for 10 minutes. This is a very effective and affordable means of caring for the appearance of a pregnant woman. So, in the menu of a pregnant woman, potatoes are useful in moderate doses; they are also used as a medicinal folk remedy.
Recipe for cooking French fries in the microwave
To complete the dish you will need a classic list of ingredients:
- potatoes - about 1 kg;
- vegetable oil - 2 - 3 tbsp is enough. l.;
- spices to taste;
- garlic – 1 – 2 cloves.
The potatoes are pre-washed and peeled. It is recommended to choose tubers of the same size, otherwise the straws will be different and will not be baked equally. Place the cut straws on a paper napkin, this will help get rid of excess liquid.
Prepare herbs, vegetable oil and spices. Finely chop everything, add garlic and black pepper, grind thoroughly.
Potato sticks are mixed with a spicy sauce made from garlic, herbs and vegetable oil. Place the potatoes in a baking sleeve and pierce them in several places to allow excess steam to escape. French fries take no more than 15 minutes to cook in the microwave. The dish must be served hot. You can add mustard, sauces, and ketchup to it.
Experienced chefs share valuable tips on how to cook French fries in the microwave:
- instead of a baking sleeve, you can use a small container with a lid; you can also cover the container with cling film with holes made;
- It is not recommended to use young vegetable tubers for this dish; they do not have a dense structure and may fall apart during baking;
- It is better to salt the vegetable already prepared, otherwise there is a chance that the potatoes will become soft and loose;
- The straws or bars must be the same size; you must not leave the microwave while preparing the dish, as there is a high probability that the straws may become very hot and dry out.
It turns out that French fries can be not only tasty, but also easy to prepare. Even children can prepare the dish.
Microwaved French fries
it turns out no worse, and maybe even better, than deep-fried. The potatoes according to this recipe are not too fried, but just as crispy and tasty, they have a small amount of fat. You can serve French fries with your favorite sauce as a snack or as a side dish for a vegetable salad.
