{"id":12142,"date":"2013-04-15T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2013-04-15T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=12142"},"modified":"2018-10-28T13:42:12","modified_gmt":"2018-10-28T20:42:12","slug":"the-fully-loaded-baked-potato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/the-fully-loaded-baked-potato\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fully Loaded Baked Potato"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n When I say “loaded baked potato” probably the first image that comes to mind is a piping hot, fluffy Idaho russet potato<\/a> loaded with butter, bacon bits, sprinkled with chives and topped with a dollop of sour cream and maybe a handful of shredded cheddar cheese for good measure. Sooo good, but sooo bad at the same time! And I’m as guilty as the next person for indulging in one alongside a juicy ribeye or sticky BBQ’d ribs. Nowadays, I’m much more health conscious and enjoying potatoes in a whole different light.<\/p>\n I feel bad for the potato and the fate that has befallen it: the poor spud has been beaten up for being a carb and highly caloric, yet this reputation is by no fault of its own (a medium-sized potato has only 110 calories), but rather the sum of the parts being heaped on top of it.\u00a0Besides being low in calories, a potato is also very nutritious – high in Vitamin C, and B6, Potassium, fiber, and simple and complex carbohydrates necessary to energize our minds and bodies. The potato is extremely versatile and, believe it or not, can be delicious without all that added fat. The best thing about potatoes is their versatility – you can eat them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and there are a gazillion ways to prepare them. With no fat or cholesterol, potatoes are also heart healthy and have been certified by the American Heart Association as a heart healthy food. An added bonus, is they’re naturally gluten free<\/strong> and one of the most inexpensive<\/strong> foods you can buy.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n I don’t know many people who don’t like potatoes, do you? Don could eat them every day, so we’re glad that they’re heart healthy and not another food he has to be careful about, the challenge is preparing them in a way that accentuates the positives vs. canceling them out. I’ve been on a mission to create a meal plan which I’m calling, \u00a0“A Spud A Day Keeps The Doctor Away”: a week’s worth of nutritious, vegetarian weekday dinners that fit in with our busy schedules, are relatively quick & easy to prepare, and include \u00a0ingredients that are widely available. Why vegetarian? Many households, ours included, are trying to eat healthier and live more sustainably by cutting out meat one day a week. That’s what the Meatless Monday<\/a> campaign is all about. Obviously, if there’s someone who must have their animal protein to be satisfied, it can always be added or served alongside.<\/p>\n Today’s Spud of the Day<\/strong> is the Fully Loaded Baked Potato<\/em><\/span><\/strong>. Overflowing with the vibrant colors, flavors and textures of \u00a0leeks, gai lan, red pepper, and roasted cauliflower, it makes a perfect nutritious weeknight meal with minimal prepping and cooking. It’s been one of my go-to Meatless Monday dishes for the past two years because Monday’s are notoriously hectic and you can substitute whatever vegetables you like so it’s a wonderful vehicle for emptying the crisper drawer of veggies that need to be used.<\/p>\n