Potato taro vegetables mainly include potatoes (potatoes, potato), sweet potatoes (sweet potato, sweet potato), taro, yam, lotus root, water chestnut, etc.

　　 Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, β-carotene, potassium, and dietary fiber, and the protein quality in potatoes is higher than some vegetables. But as a vegetable, the most distinctive nutritional characteristic of potato is that it contains more starch, and its content is between 10% and 25%. It is for this reason that tubers have once become the "famine relief" food for Chinese residents-in the era of food shortages, tubers are used to replace grain to provide energy. In other words, potatoes have the characteristics of both vegetable and grain foods, which are both grain and vegetables. The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents 2007" recommends appropriately increasing the intake of potatoes, about 5 times a week, 50 ~ 100g each time. This is equivalent to 250~500g per week. "Dietary Guidelines for American Residents 2005" recommends eating 3 cups (about 680g) per week.

　　However, because potatoes contain a lot of starch, their energy far exceeds that of ordinary vegetables. In order to avoid excess energy and obesity, it is recommended to eat potatoes as a staple food, that is, to eat potatoes while reducing the intake of grain (cereals), or replace some of the grains with potatoes. It should be noted that in terms of starch content, potatoes can replace food, and the content of vitamins and minerals is higher than ordinary food, but the "Chinese Dietary Guidelines 2007" pointed out that some potatoes have lower protein content than food. In the absence of sufficient animal foods, children have long used potato as the staple food, which is detrimental to their growth and development.

　　 In addition, how to eat potatoes is also very important. Now potatoes are often processed into snacks such as French fries and potato chips. These snacks not only destroy the original nutrients of potatoes, but also contain a lot of fats (including trans fatty acids) and salt. It has been determined that a medium-sized oil-free "roasted potato" contains only about 90kcal of calories, and the heat energy of the same potato made into French fries is more than 200kcal, and all the increased energy comes from the absorbed fat. In recent years, it has also been confirmed that French fries and potato chips contain more carcinogens, acrylamide. As a result, "potato" has become a carcinogenic food with high energy, high fat, and low vitamins.

　　 Therefore, the "Chinese Resident Dietary Guide 2007" recommends that potatoes are best steamed, boiled, and roasted, and fried as little as possible. In general, potatoes are best steamed, roasted or boiled as a staple food, or fried, stewed, or mashed after a knife change; sweet potatoes are best steamed, roasted, or minced porridge.