Who doesn’t like a steaming baked potato loaded with fresh toppings? Potatoes are very high on the glycemic index, so I always thought it was best to steer clear of them. But then I learned about their wonderful benefits, such as being high in vitamin C and B6 (almost half of the daily recommended amounts), and discovered how they can be a vehicle for other good foods such as butter, sour cream, and cheese which drastically lowers its glycemic index, and now I am a big fan! There are so many good options for a baked potato, so get creative and dig in!

Organic potatoes are one of the dirty dozen, meaning that they contain a large amount of pesticides. In fact, according to studies, 81% of conventionally grown potatoes contain pesticides, even after being washed and peeled. We pay $3.50 for a 3 lb bag of organic potatoes at our local grocery store, which I think is well worth the price.

Ingredients

• 1 Potato
• 2 T. Butter (Kerrygold)
• 4 T. Sour Cream
• ½ c. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Chives, Chopped
• Real Salt (I buy my Real Salt in bulk here, you can buy a shaker here, or a refill pouch here.)
• Pepper (Buy it here.)
• Optional Toppings: Crumbled bacon, chili, or broccoli

Directions

1. Cook the Potato.
   1. Microwave: Poke holes in the potato and cook for 5 minutes.
   2. Bake: Wash your potatoes, rub with olive oil or coconut oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350˚F for 1 hour. (Flip halfway through.) Bake a whole bunch so that you can keep extra in the fridge so that you won’t need to wait for an hour the next time you want a baked potato! *Throw these in the oven when you’re making a roasted chicken!
      

      Baked Potatoes

2. Cut it up, smother it with butter, and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on the top. Pop it in the microwave for 1 minute.
3. Then, smother it with sour cream, top with chopped chives, and sprinkle generously with salt and a little pepper.
   

   Baked Potato with Butter, Melted Cheese, Sour Cream, Real Salt, and Chives

4. Now tell everybody to leave you alone because you have some serious eating to do!!