IDAHO POTATO COMMISSION “BUILD A BAKER” WEB PAGE DELIVERS NUTRITION MESSAGING TO KIDS IN EASY BITES

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Contact Ann Segerstrom

415-922-6033

ann@segcm.biz

IDAHO POTATO COMMISSION “BUILD A BAKER” WEB PAGE DELIVERS

NUTRITION MESSAGING TO KIDS IN EASY BITES

 Eagle ID (May 2016)—Teaching nutrition to kids can be problematic. While the topic galvanizes adults, kids need a little help to engage. So make nutrition intriguing and interactive with Build a Baker, a web page created by the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) to help kids make healthy menu choices. Potatoes often get a bad nutrition rap, when, in fact, potatoes are a nutrient-dense vegetable. A healthy diet that includes potatoes starts with preparation and toppings.

Build a Baker provides a hands-on nutrition lesson that begins with a medium Idaho® baker (5.3 ounces, 110 calories, 0 calories from fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium). Kids are instructed to drag their favorite toppings onto the potato. Topping choices range from chopped chives through dairy (regular, light and fat-free choices) to chili and protein options to vegetables and sauces. For example, load an Idaho® potato with one bacon slice (crumbled) and ¼ cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese, and the calorie count almost doubles to 215 and nutrition facts change accordingly. Alternatively, add 2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream and 2 tablespoons mild salsa to enjoy an Idaho® potato with only 150 calories (and an improved nutrient profile).

To let your students try their hand at building a baked potato and see how their choices impact the nutritional profile, visit idahopotato.com, or head directly to the Build a Baker page. For more information about the Idaho Potato Commission foodservice program and resources, visit idahopotato.com/foodservice.

About the Idaho Potato Commission

Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho®” seal, a federally registered trademark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain–fed irrigation and rich volcanic soil, give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance. These ideal growing conditions are what differentiate Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states. For more information, visit: www.idahopotato.com.