Survey: Potatoes the secret to a woman's heart this Valentine's

Want to know the real way to a woman's heart this Valentine's Day? Look no further than the humble potato.

According to a recent Potatoes New Zealand survey, 60 per cent of women perceive the opposite sex to be a healthier prospect with the presence of new potatoes in their supermarket trolley.

The survey was commissioned by Potatoes New Zealand to discover what specific items in a man's shopping trolley made female shoppers perceive men as more or less attractive.

Potatoes New Zealand food consultant and writer Glenda Gourley is encouraged to see women realise new potatoes are a healthy and interesting vegetable.

"New potatoes are easy to cook and full of flavour, so I'm thrilled to see that they are the top of the list,"she said. "Kiwi women understand the real health benefits of eating potatoes, and it's encouraging to see they like a man who eats potatoes too."

Other findings revealed 44 per cent of female respondents said having potatoes in a man's trolley would make them want him to cook for them, with 27 per cent believing potatoes could potentially make him a good partner.

Red wine came second with pasta sauce placing third for likely items that women associate with a man being a good cook. Beer and instant noodles came out worst on the healthy lifestyle scale.

Fruit and vegetables in general were also viewed positively by women, with apples and cucumbers topping the list of items women associated with being a good partner.

"Naturally fruit and vegetables were predicted to come out on top of the healthy lifestyle scale, but having potatoes in the top three reflects that the female population are not being brain washed by fad diets or the carbohydrate phobic."

New potatoes are still in season and are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, containing more potassium than bananas.

Potatoes New Zealand commissioned an independent research company to conduct the survey, after similar findings were generated in the UK. The overseas results showed that 93 per cent of women perceive potatoes in a men's trolley as indicating he has a good job.