Unfortunately, there are no concrete numbers for what moderation means for different people. For some, having a plate of fries once a week might be fine. For others, twice a month may be a better idea. “Everyone should limit their intake of fried foods, but there is not a one-size-fits-all answer,” Cox says.
Eating them once a week or less would likely have a negligible effect on your health. Portion size matters. This study didn't provide details of how many fries study subjects ate at one sitting, but an "official" serving is just 10 to 15 individual fries (130–150 calories).
Eating a potato once in a while is healthy, but snacking on French fries a few times a week provides little more than fast-burning energy that is more likely to be stored as fat in your body.
Because of their starch content, french fries are a high-glycemic food, posing a cardiovascular and metabolic health risk. However, they are high in fibre, water, and nutrients, which are beneficial. Therefore, limiting them and viewing them as an unhealthy once-in-a-while treat rather than a staple may be wise.
The United States Department of Agriculture suggests a serving size of 12-15 fries, which amounts to roughly 140 calories.
Eating French fries may also have some potential benefits for digestion. The fiber in potatoes can help to bulk up stools and promote regular bowel movements, which can aid in digestion and prevent constipation. anti-inflammatory effects.
Are Air Fryer French Fries Healthy? Yes! Out of all the ways to make french fries, cooking them in the air fryer is one of the healthiest methods. The air fryer gets these fries nice and crispy without much oil which makes them a much healthier option than traditional frying.
Acrylamide is a chemical created in certain foods that are cooked at high temperatures. Because chips are sliced so thin and fried so hot, they're even heavier in acrylamide than French fries (which, sadly, 7 out of 9 experts warn against).
Try not to have fried food every day. If you are looking to lose weight try not to have fried foods more than 2x a week. Portions! If you are eating fried foods make sure your portion fits in the palm of your hand.
Drink lukewarm water
If you've hogged on oily food, drink a glass of lukewarm water. This will help you soothe and activate your digestive system. Water serves as a carrier for nutrients and waste products. So, drinking lukewarm water aids the breaking down of nutrients in a digestible form.
French fries will only be good for a few days in the fridge; any longer than that, and they'll start to lose their texture and become crumbly. The moral of the story: Be sure to reheat and eat your leftover french fries in a timely manner!
However, fried foods are low in fiber, which makes it way slower for your system to digest, meaning they remain a lot longer in your intestine. French fries can take from ten (10) to twelve (12) hours to leave your body, leaving behind some extra fat that's definitely not helpful for normal digestion.
Frozen fries are still fried! Even worse, many brands use trans fats and palm oil which aren't ideal for heart health. While fries do need a sprinkle of salt, many bagged brands have at least 15% of the daily recommendation of sodium per serving.
Straight and Thin
Pro: These are the classic fries, and they're available the fastest since they're the kind served at most fast-food joints. Con: There can be a wide variance between too dry and crunchy, or way too bendy and limp. And no one likes a pile of soggy potato.
Rustveld explains that if you deep fry correctly and pay attention to the temperature and batter, you can enjoy deep fried foods in moderation. Pan frying is a method that requires lower temperatures and incorporates monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, canola oil or avocado oil.
But, alas, the fresh-cut potatoes, fried in peanut oil, were named the Worst Regular Order of Fries. The nutritional breakdown of a large order: 1,464 calories, 71 g fat (14 g saturated) and 213 mg sodium.
Mac and Cheese
But this dairy-laden pasta is just as bad as French fries when you look at the numbers. The average side order at chain restaurants has 436 calories, 24 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat and 1,082 milligrams of sodium.
Chips are fine to eat when consumed in moderation, but watch out for high sodium content and trans fats. Note serving sizes before digging into a bag of chips. Kale chips and popcorn are great alternatives to make at home. Crunchy fruit, vegetables, and nuts are other chip alternatives.
"Sweet potato fries are often thought of as a healthier alternative to regular french fries. And while sweet potatoes themselves can come with a few extra health benefits, this is subject to change based on how they're prepared and cooked," says Emma Willingham, clinical dietitian at Houston Methodist.
To contextualise, a McDonald's hamburger packs 250kcal and 13g of muscle-building protein, while a medium portion of fries comes in at 337kcal, 3.3g of protein and 42g of carbohydrates, a macronutrient often linked to weight-gain. Looking for a good reason to go big on your next cheat day?
By most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat. This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying.
Air-frying is a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods, but oven-baking often preserves good nutrients while filtering out the bad ones, making oven-baked foods even healthier than most air-fried foods.
Sweet potato fries are considered a healthier choice, as compared to the traditional French fry. Eat This, Not That adds, “sweet potatoes lend a whole different kind of flavor, as well as a wealth of nutrition. Alexia is a great brand in general for frozen foods.