We’re in the throes of summer, and that means that eating well is out the window, right?
Wrong!
The scents of barbecues, carnival fries, fry bread, and funnel cake might be tempting you to give in to the lazy menus of relaxed summer months. Then there are curly fries, those whimsical treats that taste so good going down but leave you riddled with guilt and digestive issues for days.
Only you can decide what food does and does not enter your body. Fortunately for you, it’s easy to avoid junk food and eat healthily, as long you know how to replace fast-food with vegetables. Simply replace the unhealthy ingredients with nutritious ones, add some new spices, and voile! Let’s take curly fries, for example. Believe it or not, you can still relish in the nostalgic childhood joy of eating curly fries … without any of the guilt or digestive problems.
Here’s how: We’ll replace the traditional potato in curly fries with zucchini. Serve them up with marinara sauce, and chances are your kids – and your taste buds – won’t realize you’re actually eating a healthy vegetable instead of the popular bar snack. Recipe from eatingwell.com:
What You’ll Need
2 baking sheets
parchment paper
4 mixing bowls
1 small bowl
2-3 zucchini or pre-made zucchini noodles
¼ cup of cooking spray, preferably olive oil
¼ cup cornstarch
4 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 cup panko (Asian-style breadcrumbs)
¾ ounce grated Parmesan cheese
1½ teaspoons dried oregano
12 ounces spiralized zucchini noodles
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup ranch dressing
¼ cup marinara sauce
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
3. Coat the sheets with olive oil cooking spray
4. Place cornstarch in a bowl.
5. Place egg whites in a separate bowl.
6. Stir together panko, Parmesan and oregano in a third bowl.
7. Chop zucchini noodles into 6-inch pieces.
8. Gather the noodles in the cornstarch
9. Shake off excess cornstarch if necessary
10. Soak in the egg whites
11. Shake off excess egg whites
12. Drench in the panko mixture
13. Shake off excess panko
14. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets
15. Coat with olive oil cooking spray
16. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown
17. Remove from oven
18. Sprinkle with salt
19. Mix ranch dressing and marinara sauce in a bowl (to serve with the fries)
Optional Spices
For an extra tasty snack with added health benefits, add any combination of the following spices to the sauce:
2 Tablespoons paprika
1 Tablespoon turmeric
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon garlic salt
1/2 Tablespoon cumin
1/2 Tablespoon pepper
1/2 Tablespoon dried basil
1/2 Tablespoon dried parsley (1)
Choose Health
Summertime can be tricky with all the outdoor fragrances that entice us to eat fast food. When you’re visiting the county fair, a pow wow, the boardwalk, or an amusement park, it can be extra difficult to say no to junk food. If you can hold on until you’re home, and choose a healthier alternative to the fried delights that drift through the air, your body may thank you. Zucchini is particularly nutritious. It offers your body important vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it has antioxidant properties and may have anti-cancer benefits. So next time you find yourself at the fast-food restaurant or outdoor food stand, ready to buy those greasy curly fries, remember this easy-to-follow recipe and choose health. (2)
