Dear Lynn:

I want to eat just potatoes -- boiled, mashed, baked -- to lose some weight. I work out every day for three hours and have lost 40 pounds in less than five months, but I'm still overweight, so I thought a single-food diet would help. What do you think? -- Thanks
Sara

Dear Sara:

I have three statements regarding your potato-only diet plans.

1. Be flexible! There are many food choices available, and if you limit yourself to only potatoes you'll make eating out difficult -- and eating-in-general boring.
2. Be realistic! Eating only potatoes really isn't feasible over the long term. It's also important to remember that, whatever you do to lose weight, you need to continue to keep the weight off. Unless you're prepared to eat potatoes only for the rest of your life, think again.
3. Be sensible. Moderation is the key to healthy eating and weight control. Eating only potatoes certainly doesn't fall into the definition of moderation!

To obtain 1,800 calories from your potato-only diet, which is about what you need to stay healthy and lose weight, you would have to consume, say, four baked potatoes, four boiled potatoes, and 3.25 cups of mashed potatoes each day. The calorie and fiber content are fine, but this limited diet is low in vitamins A, B2, B12 and D, folate, calcium, iron and zinc. A daily multivitamin might correct these deficiencies, but the diet still isn't flexible, realistic or sensible. I hope you rethink your diet plans.

For information on healthy ways to lose weight, please see the helpful articles listed below.

Sincerely,

Lynn Grieger, R.D., C.D., C.D.E.