It sounds like an American dream, eating French fries and not gaining weight. The crazy thing is that it is possible! Life is all about balance, and you should be able to balance your weight and certain food indulgences. As long as you consume significantly more healthy foods, than unhealthy ones, you will be just fine. There are ways that you can consume your favorite foods, and not face the dreaded consequences associated with them. You may have to steer clear of those amazing McDonalds fries, but you don’t have to avoid French fries altogether. Below are different ways to enjoy French fries and not gain those extra pounds.
Make Them Yourself
You can make French fries the traditional way, and lower the amount of fat you would consume. When you buy French fries from a restaurant, they have usually been soaking in oils for hours before they reach your plate. The longer fries are soaking in the deep fryer, the worse their content gets. If you eliminate the middle-man and make your fries at home, you can cut back on the unhealthy aspects. You can still use a deep fryer if you choose—just make sure not to leave your fries in it longer than needed. This option gives you the freedom to control what you are eating and not have to avoid one of your favorite foods.
Air Fryer Alternatives
If you are against the actual alternatives to French fries, there are still other options for you. The fact that French fries are deeply fried is what makes them so unhealthy. If you can prepare and create them in a different way you can still consume French fries. An air fryer lessens the number of unhealthy oils that your fries are made in. This option allows you to put a touch of oil on your food rather than have them soak in it. There are numerous recipes out there that allow you to make healthier versions of French fries with an air fryer. It is possible to keep that great French fry taste, but use 80 percent less oil to achieve it.
Carrot French Fries
The word carrot might make you want to avoid this food like the plague, but it is actually a great one. The carrot fries provide you with beneficial nutrients that regular French fries obviously lack. If you don’t like carrots, you should still give this a try. Many individuals don’t like carrots but love this combination. It is obviously very different from the typical French fry, but it gives you the option of not completely cutting them out of your life.
Baked Butternut Squash Fries
It is always good to broaden your horizons and try different foods. The baked butternut squash fries are a perfect substitute for the traditional French fries. In fact, these are so flavorful that you might start to prefer these over other fries. The flavors combine to give you a unique mouth-watering taste.
Sweet Potato Fries
These fries are one of the more common alternatives to the beloved French fry. If you add a little salt to these, you have the perfect sweet and salty combination. Sweet potato fries are almost the exact opposite of French fries, but they are just as delicious.
Baked Zucchini Fries
It is difficult to match the delicious taste of the typical French fry. If you are looking for a unique taste, the zucchini fries are a great option. You will be able to quench your French fry craving all while consuming a food high in nutrients. These fries are composed of zucchini, egg whites, breadcrumbs, and Pecorino Romano Cheese. You don’t have to settle for a bland tasting alternative.
Eat Your Favorite French Fries (But Hit the Gym)
You can eat your favorite French fries and not even bother with the alternatives above. You don’t have to eliminate your favorite food from your diet. In fact, if you prefer McDonald’s, you can still eat their fries. As long as you burn more calories than you are consuming, you will not gain weight. You can use your home workout equipment as soon as you finish indulging over your fries, and have no worries. It is important that you follow through with your exercising, or else you will eventually gain weight.
Unfortunately, you can’t have it all. You don’t have to eliminate foods from your diet if you accompany their consumption with exercise. If you consume 80 percent healthy foods, and 20 percent unhealthy ones, you won’t gain weight. If exercising is something that you might not be able to juggle, consider one of the healthier French fry alternatives. There are even more healthy French fry alternatives than the ones listed above. There is no reason for you to have to avoid French fries altogether.
