SWEET POTATO CHIPS

One of my favourite things in the entire world is a good chip. It may even be my "desert island" food. But chips are also, unfortunately, very high in fat and calories. Sigh. At risk of sounding like a health magazine, they are a treat to be enjoyed every once in a while rather than daily. However, there is an alternative for the chip lovers out there in the form of the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are packed full of Vitamin B6, which is essential in maintaining a healthy heart and arteries. They are a good source of Potassium, which rids the body of excess sodium and therefore helps with fluid retention, and are a brilliant source of fibre to keep the digestive system healthy - containing almost twice as much as normal potatoes. The high fibre content also means they'll keep you fuller for longer. The vitamin E and vitamin C in sweet potatoes help to contribute to a healthy complexion and shiny hair. I've also read somewhere that eating sweet potato helps you worry less or feel less anxious or something along those lines...maybe that's wishful thinking but I did eat quite a lot of them during the exam period!

So I thought I'd replace my beloved chips with those of the sweet potato variety, and inject some of these much needed vitamins and minerals into my body and brain, in preparation for exams.

You will need:

1-2 sweet potatoes (use one medium sized potato per person)

Sharp knife

Chopping board

A large non-stick baking tray

Salt

Olive oil spray or FryLite

Paprika (optional)

An oven set to about 200 degrees celcius

Without peeling, cut the sweet potato in half and then into wedge shapes. Arrange evenly on a large baking tray, making sure they don't overlap and become soggy.

Spray lightly with olive oil and sprinkle some salt on top of the wedges. Make sure not to coat them too heavily, or you'll end up with droopy, oily chips. You can also add Paprika at this point for added flavour.

Bake the chips for around 15 minutes. After this time, take them out and turn them over, and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes, until they'e crispy.

Place some kitchen roll in a bowl to soak up any excess oil, and serve!

It's really that easy, and that yummy. These chips have gained many envious looks from housemates, and make a great healthy alternative to my favourite starchy, potato-based snack.

TTFN

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