I used to avoid potatoes like the plague because, well…chips, fries and vodka. But then Ben and I did our Whole30 experiment at the beginning of the year and developed an entirely new appreciation for the tasty little tubers (particularly the sweet variety).

Their association with famine and high starch content aside, potatoes don’t deserve such a bad rap. Sure, when fried to a crisp or drowned in butter they can be less than healthy, but when eaten in their whole, unprocessed form they’re actually quite the nutritional powerhouses.

And popular, too — according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, potatoes are the leading vegetable crop in the United States and the fourth most-consumed crop in the world (behind rice, wheat and corn).

Yup, we each consume an average of 55 lbs. of frozen potatoes per year, 42 lbs. of fresh potatoes, 17 lbs. of potato chips and 14 lbs. of dehydrated potato products.

So whether you’ve always been a proponent of the potato or you’re learning to love them all over again, I found a handy little guide (below) to help you make the most of this versatile veggie.

You say poh-tay-to; I say bring on the phytonutrients and fiber!

“Reasons to Love the Humble Potato” on Health Perch

What’s your take on taters?