Scots love of tatties grows in the aftermath of Atkins
Research released today by Border based Greenvale AP, the UK's largest suppliers of fresh potatoes shows that Scots love of tatties has grown in the aftermath of Atkins. As Scots throughout the country kick start the year with healthy-eating good intentions, the research highlights that Scots have rekindled their love affair with the great Scottish tattie and are beginning 2007 more knowledgeable about the health benefits reaped from this superfood.
The research identified that of the respondents who had tried the Atkins diet, over a third of those surveyed desperately missed eating potatoes, with 72% even going further to say that they could not imagine life without potatoes.
In the past year 13% of Scots have increased their consumption of potatoes and on average spend approx £78 per year purchasing the vegetable. When purchasing potatoes over 50% of people think the Scottish origin of their potatoes is important.
Maris Piper came out top as the nations favourite potato variety (28%) with 70% of Scots considering potato variety to be important. Whereas in the category of favourite type, Baby New Potatoes came in first with 32% of respondents, Scottish New Potatoes ranked second most popular with 26% of those surveyed, while White Potatoes and Baking Potatoes came third and fourth respectively notching up 18% and 17%.
The survey highlighted that respondents knowledge of the health benefits was exceptional:
o 96% of people believed potatoes to be healthy;
o 90% of respondents knew that potatoes had fewer calories than an equal measure of pasta and
o 80% identified that potatoes had 0% fat
A third of Scots (33%) claimed that boiled potatoes to be their favourite way to eat potatoes compared to only 4% of the nation who confess to their love of chips! Interesting 98% of parents feed potatoes to their children with 54% of parents believing their children prefer mash to chips.
Over half of Scots eat potatoes simply because they "tasted good" with 25% eating the vegetable because of the "health benefits" that this superfood provides.
Louisa Johnston, nutritionalist at Tonic Health Scotland commented:
"Potatoes help individuals to be healthy, this vegetable is low in fat and in calories, and is an excellent source of Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. It's even lower in fat and calories than rice or pasta.
Potatoes are a really good fuel to make the energy that we need on a daily basis. This powerhouse of a vegetable helps maintain blood sugar levels combating fatigue, mood swings and cravings.
Potatoes are without a doubt the most user friendly carbohydrate in the Scottish diet, they are on a par with oats, however potatoes are far more versatile particularly when combined with a protein as this lengthens their effect."
