Have You Ever Wondered, “Why Do I Crave Potatoes?” Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’ve ever found yourself longing for a hearty serving of potatoes, you’re certainly not alone. Potatoes are a staple in countless cultures around the world, celebrated for their versatility and comforting qualities.

From creamy mashed potatoes to crispy fries, this humble tuber offers a wide array of flavors and textures that appeal to people from all walks of life.

I vividly remember my travels in Peru, where I was astonished to learn that there are over 2,800 varieties of potatoes cultivated across the country! While the variety in America may not be as extensive, potatoes still hold a special place in our hearts as a quintessential comfort food.

Whether it’s a steaming bowl of potato soup or a side of golden-brown hash browns, many of us turn to potatoes for their satisfying taste and texture.

So why do we crave potatoes so intensely? Generally, there are two main reasons behind this craving:

1. The Comfort Factor: Potatoes are often associated with feelings of warmth and nostalgia. They are commonly served in family meals and holiday gatherings, creating a sense of emotional comfort and satisfaction.
2. Nutritional Qualities: Potatoes are not just about comfort; they also offer important nutrients. They are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates, which can contribute to a balanced diet and impact cravings.

In this blog, we’ll explore these two key reasons for potato cravings, exploring how emotional and nutritional factors play a role in our desire for this beloved food.

Whether you’re seeking the solace of comfort food or the benefits of a nutritious diet, understanding the science behind your potato cravings might just make your next indulgence a little more enlightening.

1 – Dehydration

Potatoes are often salty – think fries or potato chips.

We crave salt when our body has lost too much water, for example, by sweating or urinating.  Sweat and urine contain electrolytes such as potassium, sodium (aka, salt), and chloride.

Since water contains these electrolytes and salt, when you lose water, you also lose salt.

Many crave salty food items (like French fries or chips) because the salty taste creates a mouth-watering effect. This mouthwater makes people feel more hydrated after eating these foods.

Of course, the mouth-watering effect of salty foods doesn’t actually hydrate you—in fact, you are left more dehydrated!

Have you ever eaten some French Fries and felt like you wanted some more even though you weren’t hungry?

It’s possible that you were initially dehydrated. Because of your dehydration, you crave salty food like French fries.

Once you had the French Fries, your mouth watered. This mouth-watering temporarily tricked your body into thinking it was drinking something!

But you are still dehydrated! And now your body wants more French Fries because it thinks French Fries will quench its thirst! But the salty fries are making the dehydration worse!

I hope you see how dehydration can make you crave salty foods.

Many potato foods are salty, like fries or chips.

2 – Energy

Potatoes are often rich in carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, making a good meal!

You might think, “Potatoes don’t make a good meal. They make me fat!”

But please keep in mind …

Potatoes are a complex carbohydrate and an excellent source of energy.

Potatoes originated in the Andes mountains region of Peru about 4,000 years ago. The Inca civilization relied on them for sustenance!

Importantly, potatoes are affordable and accessible to grow. Even in harsh climates or rugged terrain!

This makes them invaluable to developing countries with populations struggling to feed themselves.

3 – Potassium

Potatoes contain tons of potassium!

Potassium is a mineral that regulates your body’s fluid balance and nervous system.

The average adult needs 4,700 milligrams of potassium per day to maintain health. While you might not think about eating potatoes to get more potassium, it could be one of the easiest ways!

If you are not eating enough potassium, this could explain your potato cravings.

Of course, to meet your potassium cravings, you could also eat other foods high in potassium, such as:

• Bananas
• Oranges
• Cantaloupe
• Honeydew
• Apricots
• grapefruit

For more information on foods that are high in potassium, check out this WebMD article.

4 – Habitual Food Cravings

Potatoes are an excellent food for your health, and because they’re so versatile, they can be prepared in many ways.

But sometimes, you might crave potatoes even if you don’t know why! Worse yet, I have no idea what it is about potatoes that makes them so appealing!

That’s when it’s time to look at how healthy potatoes are, mainly if they are processed.

I know we just got done talking about the health benefits of potatoes, but let’s be clear here:

Unprocessed potatoes are great for your health, but the salty, fried, processed potatoes are not!

Here is a list of salty, fried, processed potato foods:

• Fries
• Potato chips
• Hashed browns
• Tater tots
• Fried onion rings

How French Fries Create Emotional Eating

Think about how your body got tricked into thinking it was hydrated after you ate those fries.

Well, turns out it’s more than your body that gets tricked!

See, salty, fried, processed foods have lots of carbs and salt. From an evolutionary perspective, we are prone to crave foods with these ingredients.

Because when we lived without modern conveniences, carbohydrates and salt were much harder to come by, we craved them!

This means that when you eat those fries, your body gets tricked into thinking it’s happy! It’s tricked into thinking the mouth-watering is hydrating you!

Here’s what happens when you eat fries:

• Your body has been conditioned through evolution to crave salty, fatty foods.
• When you get salty fries (or another similar food potato item), your body is pleased!
• Your brain and body release dopamine into your brain (aka, happy chemical)
• You get a burst of happiness, excitement, etc …
• Temporarily, you get distracted from work, stress, bad feelings, etc …
• Now, the next time you are sad, your body has learned that it can feel better by eating fries!
• This can mean your body craves fries when it’s sad, dehydrated, or even full!

If you don’t feel well due to dehydration or uncomfortable emotions, your body may be learning the wrong lesson!

Instead of drinking water or managing those emotions, your body might crave potatoes!

Side note – do you have strange cravings for ice?

What Does Craving Mashed Potatoes Mean?

There are many reasons why people get food cravings for mashed potatoes.

One common reason is that they are comfort food.

Eating something comforting and warm, like mashed potatoes, is the best way to feel better when you have a bad day or want to improve your self-image.

However, there can be other reasons for craving mashed potatoes as well. If someone has low blood sugar levels, they might crave these foods because the carbs quickly get into their bloodstream and help bring their energy levels back up again.

(Mashed potatoes digest a bit faster than non-mashed potatoes).

Another reason is texture.

If a person has been eating many foods with a tough texture, they might crave mashed potatoes because they are easier to chew and digest.

Potatoes also help keep you full, and are one of the foods according to science that keep you full the longest!

Struggling to lose weight can be challenging, especially when motivation is low. Food journaling, as discussed in “Craving Potatoes? Here Are 4 Reasons You Might Be,” can boost self-awareness and promote mindful eating.

The Eating Enlightenment Food Journal App is here to help with its easy-to-use interface and motivational features. Download it on IOS and Android today to start your journey towards a healthier, more mindful life.

What Are The Benefits of Potatoes?

There are many benefits to eating potatoes.

Potatoes are full of complex carbohydrates that fuel your body with energy.

They’re also a great source of fiber, which aids digestion and prevents various kinds of cancers. It can also help with cholesterol problems!

Furthermore, potatoes are a great source of potassium. This helps maintain cardiovascular health.

Finally, potatoes contain many other vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid, magnesium (to prevent magnesium deficiency), vitamin C, and iron (to prevent iron deficiency).

Overall, potatoes are one of the many healthy foods you can eat (if not fried, etc.), and even if you’re diabetic, you can have them!

What Is Your Body Lacking When You Crave Potatoes?

To summarize, a potato craving is usually a sign that your body lacks water or energy from carbohydrates.

(You can also have a mineral deficiency, but that’s more of a tertiary than a primary reason. We’ll talk more about these tertiary deficiencies below.)

When you are short on energy and crave potatoes, you need to get some healthy carbs and add them to your daily food intake to stop the cravings.

A common suggestion is to add whole grains with nutritional value to your diet. Examples include oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice.

This will give you the carbs your body needs while also providing fiber.

Or, if you are craving potatoes because of dehydration, drink more water during the day!

Craving Potatoes Final Thoughts

There are two reasons people crave potatoes: comfort and nutritional qualities.

Potatoes can be good for you if eaten in moderation with other healthy foods!