Why you want them:

Few vegetables come with as much baggage as the humble spud. Blamed for famine, obesity, even bad hair days, its accusers overlook some pretty handy nutritional credentials.

Low kilojoule and nutrient-dense, one potato contains 20 per cent of your daily allowance of heart-healthy vitamin B6 and due to the presence of a chemical called kukoamines, they also help lower blood pressure.

Clearly, potatoes don’t kill people, people do. Boil, bake, steam, mash or barbecue them. Just don’t cut them into strips, fry them in oil and cover them with salt.

Full-metal jacket

1. Preheat oven to 220°C. Scrub the potatoes and brush skins lightly with oil.
2. Bake on a tray for 40 minutes. Slice the potato in half.
3. Mix low-fat yoghurt and ricotta cheese in a bowl, then spread them onto the potato.
4. Top with your choice of topping: chilli con carne, tuna and onion, tomato and olives, mushroom and garlic.