There’s a good reason you crave fries and other starchy foods. They’re delicious. “When you get really hungry, the only thing that really satisfies is starch, and fries are one of the most popular sources in the American diet,” says Roberta Anding, R.D., a Houston-based spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Of course, a high-carbohydrate diet has been blamed for everything from obesity to heart disease (remember Atkins?). But you don’t need to cut out carbs, you just need to switch to smarter complex carbs, says Alexandra Jamieson, author of The Great American Detox Diet. Complex carbs have not been refined and stripped of their benefits. “Potato peels have lots of vitamin A, C, and minerals, but French fries are peeled, so none of the nutrients are left,” she says. Even smarter: Try our “fried” potato recipe with sweet rather than white potatoes and you’ll get a whopping dose of cancer-fighting fiber and beta-carotene.

Fast-Food Lover’s Homemade Fix: Sweet Potato Fries

2 large sweet potatoes, (about 2 pounds), peeled
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp reduced-fat grated Parmesan
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
Non-fat cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line one or two large baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

2. Slice the sweet potatoes into long matchsticks about1/4 inch in thickness.  Place in a zipper lock bag with the olive oil, salt, and soy sauce.  Spread out the fries in one even layer on the cookie sheet, so they are not touching.  Coat with cooking spray.

3. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the fries are golden on the outside and soft on the inside.  Sprinkle with Parmesan, garlic and onion powder.  Bake an additional 5 minutes until the spices become fragrant.  Serve immediately.


Store-bought Solution:  Jicama Sticks (found pre-cut in the produce section of your grocery)

If you love French fries for their crunch, just wait until you try jicama. At 40 calories a cup, this sweet, crispy, fat-free root vegetable—peeled and sliced—will become your waistline’s new best friend.