If you are veggie-averse, puh-lease try making veggie fries using rutabagas, parsnips or turnips. I think they’re your best bet for falling in love with this nutritious food group.
Not only do they look a lot like real fries, but when dipped in ketchup they almost taste like them, too. Now, I’m not going to lie… There’s no replacing greasy, salty French fries, but these are an excellent healthy substitute.
Tonight I made a big batch of rutabaga fries to enjoy along with slow cooker BBQ chicken.
Of course I included a big blob of ketchup for fry-dippin’.
I enjoyed my slow cooker BBQ chicken on a whole wheat Joseph’s tortilla (half of it went directly into my mouth and eluded any pictures 😉 ).
Gotta love a well-rounded dinner! Veggies + Lean Protein + Whole Grains = Score!
In Other News…
Check out this ginormous carrot I bought at the Farmers’ Market.
I figured you guys would be interested in that because you’re just as oddly interested in weird produce as I am. 🙂 It’s almost the size of my arm! Carrot overload!!!
I’m off to do some laundry and dishes… fun night ahead. 😉
Kelly says
WOW! That is the biggest carrot I have seen!!!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
Oh my… whatcha gonna do with the honker? Carrot cake perhaps!?
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
P.S. I enjoyed your read @dailySpark. How did you score that guest post opportunity? : )
Jessica @ How Sweet says
OMG I have never seen a carrot that big…lol!
TheKetchupDiaries says
That carrot is hysterical. Haha. I love carrot fries, but hate parsnip fries!!!
erinsloves says
Dang child thats huge!
Sarah says
wow that carrot is crazy! we had rutabaga fries tonight too… you inspired us. 🙂 they were great!
Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA says
baahahah that’s HUUUGE!!! What are ya gonna make??? 🙂
I’m gonna try out those fries soon. So far the only kind I’ve tried are sw potato (which I LOVE!). Do you know which are more healthy???
XOXOX, Lauren
*Andrea* says
omg that carrot is monstrous!!! it’s probably the equivalent of an entire bag of baby carrots that I have in my fridge. hahaha love it 🙂
yummy dinner! i’ve never tried rutabagas or parsnips but i do love sweet potato, carrot, zucchini and butternut squash fries so i need to try these!
ellaroo88 says
I once bought about 10 lbs of carrots that big because the man at the farmers market was so excited when I said I’d buy some he wanted to give me more. He was really cute and I just couldn’t say no. I had to eat so many carrots that week I was a little afraid I’d turn orange
Shanna, like Banana says
Is that a carrot or are you just happy to see me? Hardy har har
Janna's Keeping it Real! says
i’m glad someone else “went there”! i wanted to throw out a TWSS joke, but held back….;0) I seriously need to grow up. 26 going on 12 here…
Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA says
BAAAHAHAHA….Same thought ova here!!!! LOL
peanutbutterfingers says
TWSS jokes are more than welcome on this blog. 🙂
Shanna, like Banana says
I have no filter. I will not apologize 😉 hehe…
It was just too obvious!
erica says
whoa. that has to be the hugest carrot i’ve ever seen!!!
Anna says
Ha! That carrot is huge! I love how it looks like you’re doing bicep curls with it 🙂
Kelly says
Haha wow, that is the biggest carrot ever.
homecookedem says
I need me some rutabaga fries!! Those look awesome!! And that carrot is CRAZY! 😉
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
That’s not a carrot, that’s a mutant!! I want to try rutabaga fries! I had parsnip fries last night, and now I’m obsessed with those kinds of veggies!
Lizzy @ LBBakes says
I guess I need to try rutabaga fries! Is that your favorite among the rutabaga, turnip, parsnip spread?
peanutbutterfingers says
hmmm good question! probably the turnips, but i like them all. parsnips are the most funky tasting.
lisaou11 says
that thing could hurt someone! haha
redheadyellowdog says
I have a rutabaga in my veggie drawer waiting to be turned into fries!!
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous says
That carrot scares me a little haha. But I love your idea for fry variations! I’m going to have to try those since usually I just make sweet potato fries.
christina cadden says
omg, that is a huge carrot!
lisa says
omgooodness what a big carrot! I love when that happens- so bizarre! I also love when I buy cartons of strawberries, and then find an absolutely MONSTROUS sized one. Im alwyas like, “ooh! I call THAT one!!” hahaa 🙂
peanutbutterfingers says
haha i know! sometimes they’re the size of a small apple!
Courtney says
Looks like the slow cooker BBQ chicken trend is really goin around this week! 😉
Kristie says
I’ve seen some pretty big carrots before but I’d say that one takes the (carrot) cake. But not gonna lie, I’d probably chomp it all down in a matter of minutes. Love me some carrot.
Meg says
You could seriously do some damage with that carrot – Ryan better watch his back til you use it 😉 If I lived in a dangerous city I’d probably pack that thing in my purse for defense.
Haha anyyyways, I totally agree – I love making “fries” out of veggies! Eggplant fries are fantastic as well! I highly recomment you try them too 😀
Enjoy your night Julie!
pursuitofhealthfulness says
Eggplant fries? How do those work?
peanutbutterfingers says
i second this question! please elaborate!
Meg says
I just cut them into fry-shaped pieces and submerge them in salt water (to rid the eggplant of bitterness) for about 20 minutes. Then pat them dry, preheat the oven to 400 degrees, dip em’ in some egg or egg whites and then a mixture of salt + crispy coating (I usually use nutritional yeast since it’s gluten-free) and bake em’ for 20-30 minutes! Be sure to check on them 🙂
They’re pretty darn tasty 😀
Tina says
That carrot is insane!!!! Those rutabaga fries really do look just like fries. Now I have a salty craving.
Amber K says
The blogging world is definitely inspiring me to try a parsnip, rutabega, or a turnip. To my knowledge, I have never had any of them!
pursuitofhealthfulness says
Those really do look a lot like regular fries! Yum… I pity those people who still think potatoes are the only veggie than can be used to make fries.
P.S. Your post on the daily spark was awesome. (:
Jackie (Peaces of Earth) says
holy crap!! That carrot is ridiculous!!
I love making fries from root veggies. SO GOOD. I think that’s the only way I’ll ever eat parsnips. Got to try rutabaga!
Miranda @ MirandasJeans says
That carrot is the size of your arm! edgad! I wouldn’t even know how to tackle that carrot into actual edible sizes. I would def be standing in front of the carrot with a knife, angling it this way and that trying to figure out the best approach.
Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) says
I don’t know what a rutabaga is, but I want to try it- your fries look great!
And holy carrot!! It would make one heck of a carrot cake… 😉
Gracie says
aaaaand thatswhatshesaid.
(glad to see that other commenter’s thought the same thing, HAhah.)
spabettie says
Mmm, I NEED to make those fries! each time I see you make them – with the close up of ketchup… NOM…
that carrot??? geez.
Courtney says
The rutabaga fries look sooo good…I’m going to try them.
Alixandra says
I just found your blog after reading your article on sparkpeople. I love love love it! I have the same ideals, eating for health, not weight and I’ve just started blogging about it! I love the social support and new healthy ideas that come out of it. Thanks for this and have fun at your wedding!