Happy National French Fry Day! French fries are a favorite food of so many people and possibly, one of the most popular side dishes. Some say that French fries got their start in Belgium back in the 17^th century. People used to fry up small fish but when the weather made fishing dangerous, they cut up potatoes and fried them instead. Well, we will take frying potatoes over fish any day! The method of deep-frying came to be known as “French fried” while cutting foods into long, thin pieces is known as “frenching.”

French fries come in all shapes and sizes including shoestrings, steak fries, wedges, waffle fries, curly fries, home fries and chips. Just like other foods, fries come with condiments and toppings to enhance the taste. It can be as simple as ketchup or as indulgent as chili, cheese or gravy. As much as we love French fries, however, it isn’t healthy to eat deep-fried foods especially in today’s world of “supersized” portions. Fries are also high in sodium and fats and the ingredients in fast-food fries are downright scary! Take a look in Would You Like Some Petroleum With Your McFries? Ingredients in McDonald’s Fries Revealed and be prepared to lose your appetite.

That doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate National French Fry Day. It just means making a few healthier choices. We can make smaller sized portions and instead of frying, we can bake or roast our fries. While potatoes are actually healthy and are filled with vitamins and fiber, we can make fries out of all different vegetables such as sweet potatoes, butternut squash, eggplant, daikon, jicama and kohlrabi. We can also make fries out of tofu and chickpea flour. Take a look at 10 Healthier Ways to Make Fries and Chips for some yummy ideas and recipes. Then get ready to celebrate with 20 creative twists and delicious recipes for all kinds of fries.

1. Sweet Potato Chickpea Burger With Apricot Mustard and Rosemary Fries

These Rosemary Fries are oven baked to perfection. They’re the perfect side dish to any burger but particularly this sweet potato chickpea burger. Dip your fries in the apricot mustard. Yum!

2. Smokey Avocado Fries

If you’ve never had an avocado fry, you’re missing out. Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these Smokey Avocado Fries will change your life.

3. Chickpea Fries

Chickpea Fries are easy to make and you will make them again and again. They are large, crispy, spicy and addictive. They can be baked or pan-fried. Serve them with a creamy dipping sauce.

4. Super (Rutabaga) Fries!

These spicy oven fries are made with rutabagas so they are super-healthy. The spice blend has warm cinnamon and chile powder for super-flavorful baked Super Rutabaga Fries.

5. Spiralized Garlic Paprika Sweet Potato ‘Fries’

If you like shoestring fries, you’ll love these Spiralized Garlic Paprika Sweet Potato “Fries.” Seasoned with garlic and paprika, these skinny fries are baked to crispy perfection.

6. Buffalo Tofu Fries

These Buffalo Tofu Fries have a simple yet firey and spicy sauce. Serve with carrot and celery sticks and your favorite dipping sauce. These are the perfect answer to that craving for an old favorite.

7. Chili Cheese Turnip Fries

These Chili Cheese Turnip Fries are definitely a healthy snack to enjoy with friends or keep all to yourself. The turnip fries are prepared in a dehydrator and then topped with a spicy chili cheese sauce that doesn’t require cooking.

8. Super Flax Green Bean Fries

Fries go green with these Super Flax Green Bean Fries. Baked in a simple and healthy crispy coating, these fries are off the charts delicious.

9. Raw Yam Burgers and Daikon Fries with Ketchup

Raw burgers and fries? You bet. All that’s in these burgers and fries is a whack load of vegetables and spices. The Daikon Fries are made with daikon radishes with a homemade ketchup for a healthy, colorful and delicious meal.

10. Vegan Poutine

Vegan Poutine is the ultimate comfort food. Perfect oven-baked French fries smothered in gravy and topped with vegan mozzarella. It’s hot, crispy, gooey, cheesy and indulgent.

11. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Latin Spice Mix

These Roasted Sweet Potatoes make for a fun, spicy and healthy snack, side dish or appetizer. The spice mix is a blend of Latin flavors of cumin, garlic, oregano and spicy cayenne pepper.

12. Baked Eggplant Fries

Eggplant is downright delicious and it’s such a versatile vegetable. Take for instance, these Baked Eggplant Fries which are flavored with lots of spices and served with a creamy soy yogurt dipping sauce.

13. Raw Spicy Jicama Fries

Have some Raw Jicama Fries – spicy style! Jicama has a sweet, nutty flavor that tastes great raw and cooked. The chile powder adds a hot, spicy touch for the perfect side dish.

14. Ketchup Baked Home Fries

What’s better than a ketchup-draped pile of steaming potatoes? Try coating them in ketchup before you bake them like these Ketchup Baked Home Fries. These are crispy, savory and delicious.

15. Eggplant Fries

These Eggplant Fries are a great twist on finger foods. Creamy, decadent eggplant surrounded by a Italian-flavored crunchy coating. When dipped in marinara sauce, you’d swear you’re eating eggplant parmigiana. Make a double batch because these will not last long.

16. Raw Vegan Poutine

This Raw Vegan Poutine is a delicious and healthy twist on the classic Canadian dish. The fries are slices of jicama coated in spices, the gravy is a mushroom-onion sauce and the cheese curds are spoonfuls of a creamy cashew herb cheese.

17. Dill Pickle French Fries

Dill Pickle French Fries are salty, tangy and bursting with dill flavor just like dill pickle chips! Seasoned with fresh dill, garlic, mustard and tangy apple cider vinegar, these fries are baked in the oven until crisp.

18. Baked Cinnamon-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries With Apple Date Butter Dipping Sauce

The only thing better than sweet potato fries are Baked Cinnamon-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries with an Apple Date Butter Dipping Sauce. These are naturally sweet, light and healthy with warm, flavorful spices for a perfect and yummy treat.

19. Zucchini Polenta Fries

These Zucchini Polenta Fries are oven-baked and so good. Grated zucchini is added to the polenta for a creative twist that goes perfectly with the scramble.

20. Mexican Bean Burger With Avocado Fries

Forget potatoes. These Avocado Fries are going to be your new favorite side dish. Coated with panko and oven-baked until they are crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside, these fries are heaven.

Potatoes are great but let’s celebrate the holiday by making all different kinds of fries. The options are as endless as they are incredibly delicious.

Lead Image Photo: Dill Pickle French Fries