'No-Fry' Fried Foods

Deep-fried favorites get a nutritional makeover, and taste yummy!

If the bugs and humidity haven't clued you in, allow me: It's summertime! That means holiday picnics, pool parties, and beach getaways. And my guess is many of us will be tempted by foods deep-fried in a vat of fat: potato chips, fried chicken, corn dogs, french fries. Well, I say: Why be tempted? Give your favorite fried foods a makeover, and you've got (with only a few exceptions) to-die-for-tasting, oven-fried foods that won't make those jeans feel tight.

• Ask our Recipe Doctor for more no-fry recipes
• Want more delicious crunch? Go nuts!
• Indulged in a few too many fried foods? Don't worry. It's never too late to start exercising!

Take a look at the "before" and "after" nutritional profiles of a couple fried foods I've lightened up:

Fried Chicken

SAVINGS: About 199 calories and 20 grams of fat per serving!

Garlic Fries

SAVINGS: About 230 calories and 20 grams of fat per serving!

Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Health Benefits

Obviously, oven-frying has countless health benefits for people with heart disease and for those carrying around a few extra pounds. Oven-frying is also less likely to cause discomfort in people who suffer from irritable bowel or acid reflux -- or any other medical condition in which greasy, high-fat foods can cause big problems.

^ back to top