A Healthy And Fun Way To Have Your Fries And Eat Them Too

I make a point to eat healthy as much as possible. But, my favorite french fries aren't exactly in that category. So, here's a healthy way to have your fries and eat them, too...sweet potato fries, that is!

We love sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving, of course. And, that dish is a decadent mixture of fluffy, whipped potatoes topped with a crumble of brown sugar and pecans. It's completely sinful, and it's worth every calorie. However, with swimsuit season coming, I wanted to share my easy and healthy sweet potato fries.

Sweet potatoes, although a carb, are really nutrient rich. They are a good source of beta carotene, which is good for us in many ways including eye health. Fiber, potassium and a host of other vitamins and compounds that support our immune system are also found in the humble tuber.

Potassium contributes to heart health, and higher potassium levels are shown to manage sodium and help with blood pressure. Plus, sweet potatoes tend to be very economical. So, we're really getting a healthy bang for our buck. And, my sweet potato fries are delicious, too! That's just a bonus. Furthermore, they're baked, not fried.

I played around with a bunch of different spice blends making my recipe for sweet potato fries until I found one that stuck out as a favorite with my family. And, this one is it. I will warn you though, if you're a recipe follower who needs precise measurements, you might be unnerved by this one. It's just a dash of this and a pinch of that to taste. But, here's how I make my healthy sweet potato fries.

I preheat the oven to 425. I wash a couple of large sweet potatoes and peel them. You can leave the peel on if you want even more nutrients. We prefer to peel them, though.

Next, I slice the potatoes into french fry sized strips. It's a technical term. LOL. I place them in a large bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. Next, I sprinkle in some garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, cumin and salt. Toss the potatoes until well coated.

Then, I dump them out onto a foil lined tray. Place the sweet potato fries into the oven. Roast for about 10 minutes, then toss them. Cook an additional 10-15 minutes or until they reach the desired doneness. For added flavor, you can sprinkle on some shredded parmesan cheese. That's it...enjoy! They go great with burgers or as just a snack.