Potatoes and milk was the diet that enabled the Irish population explosion prior to the famine. https://www.dochara.com/the-irish/food-history/food-in-ireland-

Potatoes and milk was the diet that enabled the Irish population explosion prior to the famine. https://www.dochara.com/the-irish/food-history/food-in-ireland-1600-1835/ https://www.dochara.com/the-irish/food-history/food-in-irela... "The burgeoning population lived on a diet comprised mainly of potatoes and milk, which if eaten in sufficient quantity is a surprisingly nutritious, if monotonous, diet. It is also relatively tasty and easy to prepare."