Do you have a soft spot for crispy French fries and crunchy potato chips? These foods are an addicting source of comfort, and we often turn to them knowing they’re not-so-good for us. After all, your typical chips and fries are high in calories, fat, refined carbohydrates and sodium without providing much in the way of vitamins and minerals.
The next time you need a fry fix, try getting back to your roots… root vegetables, that is! Or, perhaps leafy greens — either way, you can indulge consciously by whipping up chips and fries that are actually healthier vegetables in disguise.
We’ve rounded up 11 simple recipes you can make in the comfort of your own home. Yes, you’ll have to wait for these tasty treats to finish cooking, but it’ll give your impulsive cravings some time to cool off. Bonus: This is also a great way to sneak vegetables onto your kid’s plate.
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1. Addictive Parsnip Fries with Truffle Oil
Trade in potatoes for parsnips in this fancy recipe, which calls for truffle oil. Each serving of parsnip fries boasts 6 grams of fiber, an important nutrient that most people aren’t eating enough of. Toss these fries with a generous handful of chopped parsley and watch them disappear!
Photo Credit: Paleo Grub via Yummly
2. Simple Baked Carrot Fries
Treat yourself to julienne carrot fries. They’re sweet, tasty and dirt cheap, especially if you buy carrots in bulk. This treat is also relatively low in calories, coming in at just 83 calories per serving, You also get 380% of your daily needs for vitamin A. Eat it as is or pair with a creamy dip such as this spicy chickpea buffalo dip.
Photo Credit: Diabetic Connect via Yummly
3. Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus Fries
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these asparagus fries come crusted with cheesy flavor! These asparagus stalks disguised as fries are an easy way to sneak more veggies on to your little one’s plate. Each serving comes in at under 200 calories.
Photo Credit: Damn Delicious via Yummly
4. Jicama Fries
Jicama, also known as Mexican yam, is a sweeter, lower carbohydrate replacement for white potatoes. And, you still get all the fiber benefits! These tasty jicama fries are tossed in olive oil and paprika for a touch of smoky flavor. Each serving comes in under 100 calories and contains 8 grams of fiber.
Photo Credit: The Dr. Oz Show via Yummly
5. Chunky Zucchini Fries
If you’ve got a mighty craving for crunch these chunky fries may be your next go-to. Zucchini is cheap, common and easy to eat (no bitterness here!). This low-calorie vegetable is a good source of copper and vitamin C, two nutrients important for healthy immune function.
Photo Credit: Eat Good 4 Life via Yummly
6. Easy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Take a walk on the sweeter side with these baked suh-weet potato fries! Each serving contains over 400% of your daily needs for vitamin A, an important nutrient for the growth and development of every cell in your body. Eating this veggie in fry form is a good thing: vitamin A is fat-soluble, meaning you’ll absorb it better if you eat it with fat such as the olive oil in this recipe.
7. Four-Ingredient Baked Parsnip Chips
Ah, the crispy, less well-known sibling to potato chips! Get a more nutritious crunch from your snack with these parsnip chips. They’re simple to fix up: all the ingredients (except the parsnips) are found in virtually every pantry. They absorb less oil because these chips are baked instead of deep-fried. Each serving gives you 2 grams of fiber.
Photo Credit: Food Fanatic via Yummly
8. Brussels Sprouts Chips
If you’ve never had Brussels sprouts chips, consider this recipe a game changer. Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable that’s low in calories but contains plenty of fiber and vitamins C and K. They’re a tasty alternative for chips because their thin leaves crunch up when you bake them. For extra zest, enjoy each serving with a squeeze of fresh lemon!
Photo Credit: Cookbook 365 via Yummly
9. Zucchini Chips
Thinly sliced zucchini can also be baked into chips in less than an hour. The trick is to use a mandolin or really sharp knife and lots of patience. The recipe calls for onion powder and paprika, but you can also add your favorite spices and seasoning. Pair these low-calorie chips with a nutritious spinach dip.
Photo Credit: Never Enough Thyme via Yummly
10. Baked Veggie Chips
Want some veggie variety in your life? Try your hand at baking these veggie chips featuring parsnip, sweet potatoes, celery root and beets. Each serving of this colorful snack comes in under 100 calories and contains 4 grams of fiber, as well as over 100% of your daily needs for vitamin A.
Photo Credit: Everyday with Rachel Ray via Yummly
11. Basic Kale Chips
And now, for a little throwback Thursday! Who can forget this humble vegetable turned sensational superfood? If you’re a kale fan, try making these kale chips instead of just throwing it into smoothies or a saute. 100 grams of this nutrient-dense leafy green will supply you with over 100% of your vitamins A and C.
Photo Credit: EatingWell
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