Side Delights fits plant-based menu theme of the Paris Olympics

The 2024 Olympics in Paris featured what organizers called the Paris 2024 Food Vision, a plan to cut the amount of animal products provided at the event by half of that in 2021.

The athletes village is open from July until the September close of the Paralympics. During this time, 15,000 athletes from 206 countries and millions of guests are served meals at 35 venues, according to a news release.

At least 60% of the meals offered for sale to spectators will be vegetarian, according to Food Vision, and 33% of the athletes' meals will be plant-based, including more than 600 tons of fresh produce.

In the U.S., potato marketer Side Delights said the move toward plant-based meals at the Olympics meshes well with what it offers to athletes and all consumers.

“Plant-based meals like potatoes are becoming the preferred choice from pantries to Paris,” Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, said in the release.

Potatoes contain 26 grams of the carbohydrates necessary for performance and 620 milligrams of potassium — an important electrolyte that aids in muscle, cardiovascular, and nervous system function, according to the release. They also contain B6, which helps promote good nerve function and is linked to mental health.

“Side Delights potatoes are a cost-effective, nutritious solution that are the perfect meal for athletes or anyone,” Triou said. “Consumers enjoying the Olympics can cheer on the USA with recipes from their hometown or their favorite athletes with recipes like California Avocado Tri-Color Potato Salad and Tex Mex Shepherds Pie or celebrate the host country with Potatoes Boulangèreand French Potato Salad.”

Side Delights says it offers a variety of choices of nutritious, economical products, including bagged and bulk potatoes, potato kits, convenience potatoes, petite potatoes, fresh-cut potatoes, and organic potatoes.