Potatoes Announced as the Official Performance Vegetable of IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder

Potatoes USA Partners with IRONMAN® to Inspire Athletes to Fuel with Potatoes

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Aug 01, 2017, 13:00 ET

DENVER, Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

Athletes will snack on Potato Energy Bites at IRONMAN 70.30 Boulder. Get the recipe at PotatoGoodness.com/Performance.

As the Official Performance Vegetable of IRONMAN® 70.3® Boulder, potatoes will be making a powerful impression at the race taking 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.

Read on for a by-the-numbers look at how potatoes can power athletic performance¹, and to get the recipe for Potato Energy Bites:

26 Grams of Carbohydrate: Count on the quality carbs in potatoes for optimal mental and physical performance.^2,3 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).⁴
620 Milligrams 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 2 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

1. Nutritional data is based on a medium-size 5.2 ounce skin-on potato.
2. Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Position of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics, American College of Sports Medicine and the Dietitians of Canada. Med Sci Sports Excerc. 2015; 48:543-568).
3. Burke LM, Hawley JA, Wong SH, Jeukendrup AE. Carbohydrates for training and competition. J Sports Sci. 2011; 29 (Suppl 1): S17-27.
4. Gelibter A, et al Satiety following intake of potatoes and other carbohydrate test meals. Ann Nutr Metab. 2013; 62:37-43

About Potatoes USA

Potatoes USA is the nation's potato marketing and research organization. Based in Denver, Colorado, Potatoes USA represents more than 2,500 potato growers and handlers across the country. Potatoes USA was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. Today, as the largest vegetable commodity board, Potatoes USA is proud to be recognized as an innovator in the produce industry and dedicated to positioning potatoes as a nutrition powerhouse.

SOURCE Potatoes USA