Is there anything better than French fries? We think so! In fact, we have three healthy alternatives to your favorite greasy snack: sweet potato fries, a healthier ‘French fry’ and zucchini fries. From your first bite, it will become your new addiction.
Sweet Potato Fries
A popular alternative to French fries are sweet potato fries. They don’t contain any of the grease or ‘bad fats’ of classic French fries, and give you a double whammy of goodness: a little bit of salt, a little bit of sweetness—and the perfect amount of starch to leave you feeling satisfied. Sweet potato fries are as versatile as the traditional potato fries are, so they’ll make everyone from grown-ups to picky kids happy.
Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and/or add some Italian seasoning mix to your mix! If you want something a little different that would add pizazz for your taste buds, season your fries with salt, pepper and garlic salt or substitute the garlic salt for garlic powder, paprika and dried basil. Yum! In addition to the fries (and to further entice skeptical eaters), why not prepare a homemade dipping sauce? The recipe is only two ingredients, and easy as pie! Simply stir ¼ cup of mayonnaise along with two tablespoons of sriacha sauce. Grill some beef, turkey or mahi burgers, and you’ve got the perfect meal that will truly satisfy both your palate and your waistline!
A Healthy Spin on ‘Classic’ French Fries
If you’re hammering for a ‘real’ French fry, why not opt for a homemade one, so you can enjoy the flavor, while reducing the fat? There’s an easy way to eat fries without feeling guilt, and that’s by baking them in the oven instead of deep frying them! Grab a handful of your favorite kind of potato, cut them up to resemble long, thin ‘fries’ you’re used to, and salt with salt and olive oil. Then simply bake at 450 degrees for 35 minutes. Viola!
Fries
Zucchini fries are one of the most delicious ways to get your veggies in—while having a fun time eating them! While sweet potato fries may resemble the size and look of traditional fries a bit more closely than these zucchini sticks to, zucchini sticks offer a fantastic crunch and unique flavor that will allow you to serve with anything: on top of a salad, as an appetizer you can enjoy while watching the game, or as a mini-meal to keep your energy up. Here’s the ingredients you’ll need:
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley leaves
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ t. basil
• ½ t. oregano
• ½ t. thyme
• ½ t. garlic powder (or minced fresh garlic—if you go this route, a clove or two will do.0
• 4 zucchinis, cut lengthwise and quartered.
• ½ cup of fresh parmesan, grated (this is the magic ingredient, so buy the good stuff!)
Spray a baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray, and set the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, combine all of the seasonings. Line up the zucchini on the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and then coat the zucchini with the seasonings, liberally. Bake for 15 minutes, and broil for another three minutes until a perfect golden brown. You’re done! Enjoy! (They’re addictive!)
