Health and nutrition
Mini project: Potato power
Case study: The Potato Challenge
Introduction
This case study shows how a potato-based lesson can meet key elements of the
curriculum. Potatoes are quick and easy to prepare and cook, offer great value, and
contain a variety of important nutrients making them an ideal lesson topic. Whether
served as an accompaniment, or as part of a main meal, potatoes have a role to play as
part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Loreto Grammar School takes on the Potato Challenge
The Cook Your Own Potatoes team invited 20 Key Stage 3 pupils from Loreto Grammar
School in Altrincham to take the Potato Challenge as part of a lesson that explored the
role of potatoes in a healthy, balanced diet. The lesson covered how and where they are
grown, explored the different varieties available and then focussed on their healthy
profile. The pupils were then challenged, in teams, to cook a potato and chicken curry,
with the final dishes being judged by staff from the school.
The potato story
The pupils learned about the seasonality of potatoes and the difference between British
maincrop varieties such as King Edward and Maris Piper and new potatoes which have a
much shorter season and are usually harvested in the summer months. They heard
about the great choice of potatoes on offer and how different varieties of potato are
grown in different parts of the country. The lesson also included a chance for the girls to
taste a number of different types of potato and see for themselves how the texture varies
between varieties. For example, Desiree potatoes have a smooth texture which is
perfect for mashing, while Maris Piper and King Edward have a fluffy texture making
them ideal for roasting and chips. Charlotte, a salad potato, has a much firmer texture,
and the pupils could see for themselves how this makes them ideal for dishes like salads,
casseroles and curries.
The pupils were given tips on storing potatoes and using up leftover, cooked potatoes to
help minimise waste, such as freezing leftover mash to save time another day.
Potatoes as part of a healthy, balanced diet
A discussion was held about the importance of a healthy, balanced diet and the role of
the key nutrients that we all need, such as carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and
minerals. Plus there was a reminder about what foods we should all try not to eat too
much of such as sodium and saturated fat.
The students heard that potatoes contain starchy carbohydrate, which is an important
source of energy for everyone, plus they contain fibre, needed to keep the digestive
system healthy and thiamin which contributes to the normal function of the heart and the
nervous system. Potatoes are also a source of potassium which helps with muscle
function and the maintenance of normal blood pressure, as part of a healthy, balanced
diet.
In addition, the pupils were reminded that potatoes are naturally fat free and salt free,
and that the nutrients in potatoes are throughout the flesh, not just concentrated under
the skin.
The Potato Challenge
To bring all the benefits of potatoes to life, the students were challenged to follow a
simple potato and chicken curry recipe, cooking alongside the leader of the workshop. In
teams, the students chopped and cooked chicken and onion, added cooked salad
potatoes and tomatoes, then blended in the spices to make a delicious main meal with
potatoes from scratch in less than half an hour.
The teams of students then presented the finished dishes for tasting and judging by the
Deputy Head, who declared that two teams were joint winners! The girls clearly enjoyed
the challenge and all succeeded in preparing a tasty meal.
Feedback from the school
Mrs Wray, Food and Technology teacher at Loreto Grammar School, commenting on
the workshop said 'The lesson really helped the students understand the role potatoes
can play as part of a healthy, balanced diet. It highlighted not only the nutrients found in
potatoes but their versatility and value too. The lesson flowed well and covered several
elements of the curriculum, from provenance to an assortment of practical skills. The girls
enjoyed the challenge of cooking the curry and I think were surprised at not only how
quick and easy potatoes were to cook with but how tasty the finished dish was!'
And from the pupils…..
‘I didn’t realise potatoes were so quick and easy to cook with!’
‘I was surprised to learn that potatoes were so low in fat'
‘I think my whole family will enjoy this potato and chicken curry – and I am sure I will be
cooking it again!’
Holding a potato challenge in your school
If you are interested in holding your own Potato Challenge, here are our top tips to setting
up and running a potato lesson:

Buy a sample of each of the top four or five most commonly available varieties
of potato from your local supermarket. Compare the way they look and help the
students understand which varieties are best for which cooking methods and
recipes ( see chart below)

Lead a discussion on the key nutrients needed for a healthy, balanced diet and
compare with the nutrients found in potatoes
You could begin by asking pupils:
o Who likes/doesn’t like potatoes
o What are their favourite ways of cooking and eating potatoes
o If they don’t eat potatoes, what are the reasons

The Potato Challenge
See the recipe section of www.cyop.potato.org.uk
for the potato and chicken curry recipe we used,
plus a selection of other suitable recipes that the
pupils could cook alongside the teacher. All the
recipes have been written with the curriculum in
mind and are suitable for Key Stage 3. They are
of varying lengths to suit different lesson plans
and timings.
Photo credit: All images Jason Lock