Snacks

Today's post focuses on healthy snacks. Unless you offer healthy options, kids inevitably choose their favorite standby.

Our girls love french fries. Their mom loves french fries. On the rare occasion, we treat ourselves to fast food fries; however, it is really possible to enjoy these on a regular basis, if I make them at home.

After school today, I was chopping potatoes for a soup. I had about half a potato leftover and decided to slice it into little rounds and pop them into the toaster oven for an after-school snack.

As soon as the girls entered the house, they could smell the potatoes roasting. It was a fun treat, and the possibilities are endless here: rounds, matchsticks, chunky fries, julienne, etc.



One thing that is tricky about making these fries is cutting all of the shapes the same width and depth. Otherwise, the cook at different speeds. Our girls don't like brown spots on their fries (which is, to me, the best part when it really gets toasted). A friend, and chef, recently gave me this tip for even cooking: put the slices or fries on a plate and zap them in the microwave for a minute to get them started. Then, pop them in the oven. Lightly salt when done.

Best french fry practices:

• Use either a basic Idaho potato or try sweet potatoes!

• Use a spray oil with your pan, or you'll be scraping off the potatoes, trying to salvage precious bites.

• Preheat your oven at 425, and time your potatoes. The thicker the slice, the longer they'll need to bake.

• And, please, DO NOT fry these. They are healthy BECAUSE you are baking them and not dipping them in oil. 

Don't forget to make it fun. Let your kids help if they want to. The more we bake and cook here, the more interested Lourdes and Nelia seem in eating the food. I'm teaching Lourdes to follow a recipe on her own right now, and it's so much fun. Or simply let them pig out on the fries. We serve ours with organic ketchup from Trader Joe's that contains "organic tomato purée, organic sugar, organic white vinegar, salt, organic onion powder, organic spieces." It contains no partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

Enjoy! Share what new snack you try in your house.