As I watch old movies, I often wonder why potatoes are sometimes
treated as peasant food. It seems that in olden times, as portrayed in the
movies, people considered the mighty potato to be lowly and unpleasant. Most
people don’t know that in history, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVII actually
wore the potato blossoms on their clothes daily to advertise this marvelous
spud.
So why would they advertise the vegetable that people
consider as lowly? What would their reasons be? They were part of nobility yet
they encouraged all to eat the potato. They themselves ate the potato. Did they
have an ulterior motive in endorsing the potato or did they have a good cause
for their actions?
The potato would have had a good effect in the society in
which Marie Antoinette and Louise XVII lived in. the potato could have alleviated
the famine and lack of food. And since the potato has a lot of nutritional
value, the people would have had more strength to work.
The potato may seem frail and useless and unworthy to some
people’s noble taste. But remember that even royalty give honor and praise to
the potato. We too, must respect them and know their true value. And that is
why I like to call them Sir Spudd Taters, protector of the Belly.