How to Survive on Mars: Beans vs. Potatoes?

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In “The Martian”, an astronaut played by Matt Damon is stranded on Mars and survives by growing potatoes.

Using his only resource of potatoes, Astronaut Mark Watney creates a lab garden, and is able to survive off the single food source.

But according to the Crop Science Society of America, growing potatoes for survival purposes does the job, but bringing just a few bean seeds called pulses would have doubled his nutrition value.
 
So we decided to start a friendly competition asking one NDSU potato expert, and one professor specializing in pulses to see just what would be better for survival on Mars.
 
Andy Robinson potato expert at NDSU and MSUM says potatoes are high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C and you can pretty much grow them anywhere, even Mars.
 
“Like I said potatoes are great you can produce a lot more potatoes per area than you can with beans by far so you can eat a lot long I would say,” says Andy Robinson, Potato Expert at NDSU and MSUM.
 
“But if you were only to eat one thing I think I would choose a pulse over a potato,” says Clifford Hall NDSU Pulse Professor.
 
NDSU pulse professor Clifford Hall says if you’re stranded on Mars you will need protein, and carbohydrates. Two things that pulses have to offer.
 
“Kind of a balance you don’t just want to have all carbs or all protein you want to kind of have a balance of those two components,” says Hall.

But at the end of the day both beans and potatoes go hand in hand when comes to nutrition.
 
We’ll send the word to mark next time he finds himself stranded on Mars.
 
“The Martian” is rated PG-13 and is already playing in Fargo.