The Potato Underground — Discover the Goodness of America's Favorite Vegetable

By Meredith Myers 

School assemblies thrill kids of every age!

Picture this:  a gym-full of elementary school-age students, anticipating the arrival the legendary Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD character.  The excitement builds when “Jumpin’ Jules” and “Awesome Allen,” the famed spud’s energy-packed partners, pop onto stage and rev up the crowd.  Now, imagine the shrieks of delight when Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD dances onto the stage, beginning a 30-minute, interactive, Radio Disney produced “Potato Power Rockin’ Recess” school assembly. 

I know my description doesn’t do justice to the in-person experience. I mean, I was there last week - and my ears are still ringing.  The last in a three year-long series of school assemblies held across the United States was performed on December 14 at Chinook Trail Elementary in Colorado Springs, CO.  The month prior we were at Woodrow Wilson Elementary in West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, WI.

 
The star of the show is definitely the potato industry’s “spokespud,” and, under license from the Hasbro Properties Group, Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD has an important mission in mind. Donning sneakers, a baseball cap, and carrying a water bottle, he wants kids, teachers, and parents to know that the potatoes they love are full of essential vitamins and minerals, providing the nutrients needed to get up and get fit! 

So, students learned new nutrition vocabulary words like potassium, fiber and vitamin C.   The teachers danced - some even on stage!  The kids grooved to the Potato Power Dance. Prizes were awarded for good answers.  Plus, we discovered kids can automatically tell you a half-dozen ways to eat potatoes…and they love them!  So, Mom, how about serving potatoes tonight???

As I mentioned, the Potato Power Rockin’ Recess was performed in six other cities across the country: San Jose, Denver, Atlanta, Harrisburg, St. Louis and Grafton.  The idea behind the school assembly series was to tie it to a larger nutrition campaign, one launched during the 2005 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, when Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD sprinted down the streets of NY for the first time as a giant balloon. This Thanksgiving, which my fellow blogger, Cheryl Koompin, wrote about earlier this month, was the balloon’s final parade appearance, yet he will still help usher in 2008 as the International Year of the Potato, as designated by the United Nations. It’s been a delight to promote a character that communicates nutrition in a way that resonates with so many people in all stages of life.
 
Before I sign off, I really want to make sure my state potato organization colleagues (friends!) know how much I truly appreciate their help this year in making their state assemblies successful.  The USPB partnered with the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, which all provided promotional and educational materials to all the students and classrooms.  This way, students, parents and teachers have reminders that the nutrition-packed potato was proudly grown in their own state.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 12 to 16 minutes total

2 1/2 cups shredded, unpeeled russet potatoes (about 1 lb.)
1/2 cup grated onion
1/3 cup peeled shredded carrot
1/3 cup flour
2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 egg + 1 egg white
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

Scrub potatoes and coarsely grate. Immediately place in a bowl of ice water to keep potatoes from discoloring; let stand for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, place the onion, carrot, flour, chives, salt, pepper and eggs in a medium bowl and stir well.

Drain the potatoes and squeeze out moisture; stir into egg mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large non stick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.  Spoon about 1/4 cup of potato mixture for each pancake into skillet, cooking 4 at a time.

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, flattening with the back of a spatula and cooking until golden brown and crisp on both sides.  Drain on paper towels.  Repeat with remaining oil and potatoes.  Serve immediately with chunky applesauce and low-fat sour cream. 

Makes 4 servings.

By Cheryl Koompin 

I’m Cheryl Koompin, current Co-Chair of the United States Potato Board’s (USPB) International Marketing Committee. This Thanksgiving, I put on a different hat—in fact it was a knit, neon green hat that I wore as I walked down the streets of New York, holding on to a bar that anchored the Healthy Mr. Potato Head Balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Above: Healthy Mr. Potato Head himself, as he makes his final appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

My husband, Klaren, and I want to say thank you to the potato industry, as it was a privilege to represent the USPB as balloon handlers– how exciting this was! Country spud visits city spud during the holidays!   NBC, CBS, ABC and dozens of other television crews were tucked into the 3.5 million folks crowding the famous three mile parade route, and when our balloon showed up, potato nutrition took center stage. (Take a look at the “HMPH Balloon Handler” experience here.)

Above: Klaren and Cheryl Koompin

What fun it was to experience the Big Apple while walking under the Big Potato on Thanksgiving morning!  Groups of folks shouted from the sidelines, “WE LOVE POTATOES!”   Music to all of our ears was: “I love you Mr. Potato Head!” And who could forget the balloon-captain-inspired banters of thousands of voices, one side of the street yelling: “POTATO!” and the other yelling: “POWER!”  or “You say Potato!” and the other yelling: “I say Potaaato!”  Back and forth, back and forth. Simply incredible!

Above: The Koompin Family

I smile recalling it.  It was truly emotional to be with the other potato industry folks marching along Broadway and 34th streets, up REALLY close to so many smiling faces and waving hands in support of Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD. Thank you, thank you, from me and Klaren for this great experience!! And thank you for an opportunity to travel with our two grown sons touring this old, historical American city and sharing the experience with other potato industry folks.