We all know that rice, wheat and corn are staples, but do you know there is another kind of staple food—potatoes? Potatoes have many advantages. They are a good source of vitamin C and potassium(钾). A potato's vitamin C is as rich as 10 apples. What's more, potatoes are low in calories(卡路里)-only three fourths of the same amount of wheat and corn, according to People's Daily. Potatoes are easy to grow. It can be grown in both the north and the south during winter, spring and autumn. The plant is also able to bear drought(干旱). Some areas of China are facing water shortages, so the potato is safe to grow.

With these advantages, having potatoes as a staple food will make our menu more balanced. Now, many Chinese people treat potatoes more like vegetables, and eat them in the form of potatoes cooked with beef. But being a staple food, potatoes can be cooked differently. Scientists have succeeded in making potato flour(粉), noodles and other staple foods similar to those made of rice or wheat.