Without question, french fries are one of the most popular and well-loved foods globally. They’re delicious, affordable, and you can get them everywhere. Since National French Fry Day is coming, it’s the perfect excuse to enjoy a plateful of your favorite food, right? Before you dig in, let’s look at fries, and how to make them as healthy as possible. You can also learn how advanced allergy and intolerance testing could help you avoid risk the next time you sit down to enjoy a hot plate of your favorite side dish!
Are french fries healthy?
So, this question must be answered first to celebrate National French Fry Day in style. For most of the population, french fries are healthy if you eat them in moderation. If you eat them once a week or less, there wouldn’t be any negligible effect on your health profile. That’s reassuring to know, right?
Interestingly, potatoes get a bad reputation overall because they have a high amount of starch and carbohydrates. As we’ll discuss below, however, potatoes can be a great nutrition choice if you look at what’s in them!
Of course, you can find healthier ways to prepare potatoes that will be healthier than classic french fries. The cooking itself is part of the problem since the oils and seasonings can add a lot of extra calories with no “payoff” in nutrition. One way to get the french fry vibe without the fat is to get baked fries, which are oven-baked with minimal processing at home. They taste similar and are healthier.
There’s no rule that you can’t celebrate National French Fry Day using a healthier recipe, right? Something to think about if you want to keep your health in check!
Health benefits of potatoes
Now that we know french fries are not the worst things in the world, it’s time to dive into some of the potato health benefits. Some of the main ones below show how powerful they can be in your diet.
High micronutrient profile
Potatoes are loaded with micronutrients, making them an excellent choice for those struggling to get them from other sources. Potatoes are rich in vitamin C and B6, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, folate, fiber, and niacin. All these are required by the body and available in one medium-sized potato!
Aids in digestion
Potatoes are great for promoting better digestion. This is especially so with potato skin. Its high fiber content protects digestive health and promotes better digestion.
Versatile meal sides
There are many, many ways to prepare potatoes. It means you can eat them often and still find that you don’t tire of them since you could use several recipes and preparation methods. They will taste different each time.
However, you will want to know that different recipes (and commercial options) can contain hidden ingredients. Before starting something new, you’ll want to look at the recipe and ensure you aren’t allergic or intolerant to any ingredients! If you are not sure of your health profile, consider advanced allergy and intolerance testing so that you know exactly what you are dealing with!
Filling and satiating
Regardless of how they are prepared, potatoes are satiating due to the bulk of the vegetable itself. This can help cut snacking and eating too many other unhealthy parts of the meal (such as dessert). Potatoes can be a powerful weapon of choice for those who are trying their best to watch what they eat!
Budget-friendly meal choice
Potatoes are also cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk-sized bags and prepare them yourself. Between the satiation, health profile, and low price tag, it’s easy to see why they are such great choices for your diet plans.
Choose your color for your preferred benefit
Did you know that each potato color has different benefits? While all potatoes are good for you, in moderation, you can tailor your choice depending on the benefit you most want.
Darker potatoes, for instance, have a high antioxidant profile. Sweet potatoes have a high amount of vitamin A . Purple potatoes have a high antioxidant content, particularly in anthocyanins.
This is a fun part of potato selection when maintaining their health profile and vitamin and mineral balance!
Potential concerns to be aware of
There’s no better day than National French Fry Day to enjoy some fun potato preparation options. But, keep some concerns in mind to make the best choice for your health long-term.
If you have never tried allergy testing or intolerance testing, you’ll want to start there. While uncommon, you can have a potato allergy. You could also have an allergy or intolerance to peanut oil (sometimes used to prepare potatoes). Try advanced allergy and intolerance testing before you get too far into the delicious world of potatoes and risk a potential reaction. Better safe than sorry, right?
The other thing is that spice allergies and intolerances are common. You could be intolerant to seasonings used in french fries and traditional potato recipes. For example, garlic and onion are two common ingredients that can be tested.
Lastly, you’ll want to ensure you don’t overdo your potato consumption. You can have too much of a good thing, particularly when it comes to french fries. Too many french fries and potatoes can increase your blood pressure. They can also cause a stronger likelihood of diabetes or promote obesity. These are precursors and risk factors for general health problems, especially cardiovascular disease.
Your health should always be a priority, but that doesn’t mean you must avoid a special treat when the occasion strikes. If you’re looking for a way to enjoy National French Fry Day, consider this your prompt to enjoy a special treat by going to a restaurant for a wonderful meal or add a healthy twist by trying your hand at homemade french fries. They’ll give you all the health benefits with fewer risks!
