Sweet Potato Fries

Unlike a lot  of my friends and family who crave sweets, I usually am one to crave foods that are either salty or spicy. Following a plant-based diet has allowed me to embrace these cravings because I get to make something fun and I know that it will still have a nutritional value. My favorites lately have been making baked sweet potato french fries, kale chips, crispy brussels sprouts, fermenting my own pickles, blending the perfect hummus, salsa or guacamole...the list goes on. 

Today I made kale chips AND these crispy fries for lunch and enjoyed a few restorative poses on my yoga mat while waiting for the snacks to finish baking. 

NOTICE: This recipe only requires a very small drizzle of olive oil or melted coconut oil (1 tablespoon) If you use too much oil it will be much more difficult for the sweet potato to get crispy. 

Benefits of sweet potatoes include:

-Provide essential beta carotene from carotenoids

-Carotenoids are a type of Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps the body to detox because its works as an antioxidant. It also helps to support healthy vision, induces bone remodeling/growth, and aids the immune system in functioning properly. 

Here's my recipe + prep instructions:

-set oven to bake at 425 degrees Fareinheit

-1 sweet potato washed and sliced into thin matchsticks (leave skin on for + nutrients!)

-place fries in a large bowl and add:

-1 tablespoon olive oil or melted coconut oil

-1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes (great source of Iron)

-1 teaspoon garlic powder--not garlic salt

-1 teaspoon cumin

-1 teaspoon smoked paprika

-1 teaspoon coriander

-1 teaspoon himalayan pink salt or sea salt

-mix all together so fries are evenly coated in spices and oil

-place on large baking sheet lined in waxed paper in a thin layer

-bake for 30 minutes, checking on the fries half way through bake time to move around on the pan with a wooden spoon 

-serve with ketchup or your fave dip

:) 

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 278 

Carbohydrate: 33 grams

Fat:  15 grams

Protein:  6 grams

Fiber: 7 grams

Calcium: 70 grams (4% of recommended daily intake)

Vitamins/Minerals of 1 sweet potato:

Vitamin A: 438% of recommended daily intake

Vitamin C: 37% of recommended daily intake

Iron: 4% of recommended daily intake

Potassium: 15% of recommended daily intake