DENVER, Colorado — Potatoes USA is encouraging IRONMAN athletes to set aside traditional pre-race pasta dishes and rice bowls and instead power their triathlon performance with potatoes.
Loaded with quality carbohydrates, fat-free and packed with potassium, potatoes provide an ideal mix of nutrients for athletes who want to perform at their best on race day. As the Official Performance Vegetable of IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder, potatoes will make an impression at the race, which takes place at the Boulder Reservoir on Saturday, August 5.
Athletes will be able to enjoy a variety of potato dishes at the Potatoes USA “Spud Nation” food truck, from a potato breakfast bowl to tacos de papas for lunch. Race attendees can also visit Potatoes USA in IRONMAN® Village to snack on samples of potato energy bites and potato performance muffins.
26 grams of carbohydrates: According to Potatoes USA, athletes can count on the quality carbs in potatoes for optimal mental and physical performance. Plus, potatoes contain as much if not more of several essential vitamins and minerals than spaghetti, brown rice or whole wheat bread (compared on a per-serving basis).
620 mg of potassium: With more potassium than a medium-size banana, potatoes are perfect for aiding muscle, cardiovascular and nervous system function during long endurance events.
110 calories for energy: Easily digestible and more energy dense than any other popular vegetable, potatoes are a good choice to fuel the demands of racing a triathlon. To learn more about how potatoes can power athletic performance, visit PotatoGoodness.com/performance.
Potato Energy Bites
Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon ground flax
1 tablespoon unsalted pumpkin seeds
½ cup dried cherries
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Flesh from ½ large russet potato, cooked (about ¾ cup)
3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup maple syrup
Directions: In a large bowl, combine oats, chia seeds, flax, pumpkin seeds, cherries, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mash together potato, peanut butter, vanilla, and maple syrup. Add potato mixture to oats, and stir until fully combined (use hands to mix). Roll into 12 balls, and store in fridge or freezer for up to two weeks.
Nutrition (per energy bite): Calories 137; fat 4 g; cholesterol 0 mg; sodium 5 mg; carbohydrate 22 g; fiber 4 g; potassium 185 mg; protein 4 g; vitamin c 1.8 mg. (Nutritional data is based on a medium-size, 5.2 ounce, skin-on potato.
For information, visit PotatoesUSA.com.
