But you don’t have to give up fries, by any means! Creative, health-conscious bloggers have found these 6 clever ways that aren’t the boring old sweet-potato fries (which can be just as bad for you as regular fries) to give you all the crispy creaminess you crave with less of the bad stuff. Acorn Squash FriesMedia Platforms Design Team Cut some acorn squash into strips and roast it, and voilà: delicious, low-cal fries you can enjoy any time. Blogger Erinn Pinkerton of Pinks Pantry calls them “husband friendly,” meaning they’ll pass muster with guys who want white potatoes and beer. Better yet, at only 200 calories per squash, you can eat way more than you can when you use potatoes, which clock in at more than 500 calories for the same amount of fries. Here’s the recipe. MORE: Resistant Starch May Be The Next Big Thing In Weight Loss. So Why Haven’t You Heard Of It? Crispy Baked String Bean FriesMedia Platforms Design Team If your garden runneth over with string beans, like blogger Reeni’s of Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice, these crispy baked string bean fries are the perfect solution. With a little egg and panko bread crumbs, fresh (or frozen) string beans bake up into crunchy, healthy fries that even veggie haters will love. Here’s the recipe. (No time to get to the gym? Then you need our new Fit in 10 DVD, super-effective 10-minute workouts that will transform your body fast!) Butternut Squash FriesMy Fussy EaterHere’s butternut squash recipes Besides being lower in carbs than white potatoes, butternut squash is also higher in fiber and antioxidants—double score! Garnish these beauties with sea salt and fresh herbs, and you can satisfy any junk food craving without the junk. Butternut squash won’t crisp up as much as potato fries do, blogger Ciara of warns, so these are best when you’re jonesing for squishier fries. the recipe. (Here are even more you must try.) Paleo Baked Avocado FriesMedia Platforms Design Team Everyone knows avocados are full of healthy fat and other delicious stuff and are great in salads, in guac, or just eaten with a spoon. But their soft, buttery texture also makes an awesome base for baked fries, and avocado fries have suddenly become a thing at fancy restaurants and in the blogosphere. The blogger who heads up Stupid Easy Paleo coats avocado chunks in crushed pork rinds for a fry that’s totally refined-flour free. Here’s the recipe. MORE: Exhausted? 10 Foods That Will Make You Feel (And Look!) Less Tired Baked Zucchini FriesMedia Platforms Design Team Zucchini is a versatile squash—you can stuff it, grill it, make it into chips, and now, coat it in bread crumbs for a tasty, low-cal take on French fries. Not only are these fries a great way to eat up the mounds of summer squash in your garden, but Lindsay of Pinch of Yum says they’re also a fantastic way to reward yourself for not-so-fun tasks like vacuuming your entire house. We don’t usually endorse using food as a reward, but we’re willing to make an exception when it’s this tasty. Here’s the recipe. Baked Polenta FriesMedia Platforms Design Team Believe it or not, polenta actually is a veggie. The traditional European dish is a porridge made from dried and ground corn—that’s it. And nothing could be easier than these fries: Just slice a tube of premade polenta (buy organic to avoid GMO corn) into fry-like shapes, mist with olive oil, and throw them into the oven for 40 minutes for a satisfying, crispy fry with minimal effort. Oh My Veggies blogger Kiersten suggests pairing them with a garlic tomato sauce for optimal yum-factor. Here’s the recipe.
