It's not so much the potato; it's what we do/add to it that makes it so bad for us. For me, a french fried potato is nearly fatal. ;)
Not if fried in lard or tallow.
Lots of french fries are coated with wheat for flavoring. Having celiac’s I am forced to read labels lol. Like I bought some enchilada sauce, thought nothing of it, got home, then read the ingredients.. “wheat.” Sometimes it’s not the potato itself, but the amount of carbs in one that bothers people.
Even milkshakes at fast food have wheat in them to thicken them.
But since I’m restricted to either potatoes or rice... haha, I will eat potatoes, since the rest of the day is rice bread (gag). I haven’t tried quinoa lol, but I have a box in the pantry that stares at me.