Healthy Sweet Potato Fries

Indulging in the beloved French fry snack once in a while is always welcomed, in my book, because life is all about finding a healthy balance for ourselves. But, how about finding a healthy substitute without all the excess fat, sodium, and calories?

This minimal ingredient recipe is able to overwhelmingly check off all those boxes. Plus, sweet potatoes are exploding with antioxidant-rich vitamin A and also contain an equally hefty dose of fiber and potassium. Check, check!

I’ve been wanting to make sweet potato fries for months now (probably even years!), but never got around to making this simple & delicious French fry variation until last week. While these strips weren’t as crisp as a normal French fry, I had no problem savoring each and every yummy bite!

The kid in me has always loved dipping my fries in ketchup – which, of course, isn’t one of the healthiest options seeing as most prepackaged versions can be loaded with high fructose corn syrup and sodium. EEK! Thankfully I did find healthier ketchup that contained half the sugar and sodium of most popular brands on the market. #Balance

Tips to avoid mushy, soggy fries (‘cause nobody wants that!)

1. Cut evenly-sized fries: Take the time to evenly cut your fries, about 1/4-inch thick, to be exact. This will help avoid having your fries become over or undercooked. I made the mistake of cutting mine too thick – which cause some to turn out a bit flimsy

2. Use parchment paper: This will help prevent your fries from sticking to the pan and help them crisp up nicely. Just be sure to use a brand of parchment paper that can withstand high cooking temperatures.

3. Don’t overcrowd the pan: Once you add your fries to the baking sheet be sure to lay them in an even single layer. If they’re overlapping on top of each other, the fries on the bottom won’t have the chance to get as crispy. Don’t have enough room? Go ahead and use a larger pan or two smaller pans.

4. Take the time to flip fries: Once the fries have baked halfway through, you’ll need to give them a good flip. Take the extra few minutes to make sure each fry gets a full 180° flip.

5: Dig in quick! Once your sweet potato fries are ready to go, enjoy them immediately. Fries are best fresh out of the oven; if they sit out for too long, they’ll begin to get soggy. So, dig right in!