Every year on August 19, people across the United States and beyond celebrate National Potato Day. It’s a day to appreciate one of the most versatile and beloved foods on the planet: the potato. Whether mashed, baked, fried, or roasted, potatoes have found their way into countless meals and cultures. I want to share a brief story about the potato’s journey and highlight the many benefits it offers to us. Close-up view of a freshly harvested potato in a rustic basket The Story

A Historical Perspective on Vegetarian Eating Vegetarianism may feel modern because it appears often in conversations about nutrition, animal welfare, and sustainability. Yet the practice reaches back thousands of years. In ancient India, plant-based eating became closely tied to religious and philosophical ideas, especially nonviolence toward living beings. Traditions connected with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism helped shape vegetarian food cultures that are still strong t