Carbonaceous Foods

While all foods contain a combination of elements, the foods described below contain a greater proportion of carbohydrates and fats, and are classed as carbonaceous.


Roots and Tubers

Of the carbohydrates, next in importance to the sugars and to the starches in their purest form (corn starch, tapioca, sago, and arrowroot), come the roots and tubers, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, turnips and onions.

The following table shows the proportion of various foodstuffs in these vegetables:

TABLE I—ROOTS AND TUBERS

Food MaterialsWater Per CentProtein Per CentFat Per CentCarbohydrates Per CentAsh Per CentFood Value per pound Calories
Sweet Potatoes69.41.50.326.22.6440
White Potatoes75.02.10.222.00.7295
Parsnips64.41.30.410.81.1230
Onions86.01.90.111.30.7225
Beets87.01.40.17.30.7160
Carrots88.21.10.48.26.0210
Turnips92.70.90.10.10.6120

Potatoes. It will be noted from the above table that sweet potatoes have a larger percentage of carbohydrates, hence they produce more heat and energy, than any other vegetable; next to the sweet potato, the Irish potato.