Roots and Tubers

Roots and Tubers

  • The important foods in this group are potato, sweet potato, tapioca, carrot elephant yam and colocasia.
  • They are, in general, good sources of carbohydrate.
  • They are, however, poor sources of proteins, except potato which is a fair source.
  • Carrot and yellow flesh variety of sweet potato are good sources of carotene but potato, tapioca and white flesh variety of sweet potato do not have much of carotene.
  • Since they are poor sources of proteins, they can be used only in small amounts as a partial substitute for cereals.
  • Consumption of excessive amounts of tapioca by young children is the main cause for the protein malnutrition.
     


Last modified: Friday, 27 April 2012, 6:26 AM