b'Healthy Fries?A group in Holland have created a low carb french fry which is healthier than a traditional fry.BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONLEON DE WINTER wasnt impressed when hisTheres always been a push to make fries doctor told him he couldnt eat french frieshealthier with a low carb version. Fries contain anymore. The Dutch writer had been diagnosedhigh glycemic levels, sodium and carbohydrates. with diabetes and was put on a strict new diet People with diseases such as diabetes are usually and french fries werent included. told to follow a low carb diet to help manage their The writer quickly decided he would find lowblood sugar levels, meaning fries arent allowed. carb fries, however his internet searches turnedFries have even been villainized in some up zilch. That didnt deter de Winter and herespects. A 2017 study from The American Journal enlisted his cousin Len Eisman, a cardiac doctor,of Clinical Nutrition found participants who ate for help. fried potatoes two to three times a week were The two started their research and discoveredat a higher risk of mortality than those who ate Dutch potato breeder HZPC was known interna- unfried potatoes. Headlines covering the study tionally for its low carb potato varieties. HZPC hadcalled french fries a killerso the idea to make just released its line of Sunlite potatoes, whicha healthier version of a fry had merit. contained 30 per cent less calories than otherSales have been modest for HZPCs low carb potatoes, were naturally fat-free and low in sugarfry called Leon&Len. The fries debuted in Dutch and sodium.Gerard Backx, CEO of HZPC, standing in thegrocery store chain Albert Heijn in fall 2019 and Aha, thought the Leons, they had found theirgreenhouses at HZPCs research centre.PHOTO: HZPC so far, are only available there. While HZPCs solution. Alas, HZPC informed them their low carbSunlight potato varieties are available in Canada, potatoes could not be fried as they would burn onThe coated fries were shiny and golden,Leon&Len fries are not.the outside. This didnt deter the cousins and theysmelled just like regular french fries, were crispyHZPC is currently making the fries in Holland, took some home to experiment, and as they playedon the outside and soft on the insideoverallhaving partnered with a processor, but they are around, they had an idea: What if you could put adelicious, Backx says. Since they were made fromlooking to license or sell the patent.coating on the potatoes which would allow themHZPCs Sunlite potatoes they also contained 30Our interest is not to be a processor, our in-to fry? per cent less calories, the fries were naturallyterest is to show what can be done with potatoes, Finally, a solution was found. If you make afat-free and low in sugar and salt/sodiumthusBackx says, adding HZPC is always interested coating out of starcha special potato starchmaking them acceptable for de Winters diet. in working on ways to show the versatility ofthen you create a french fry that can be madeThe new low carb fries solved a problem thepotatoes as a food. Leon&Len fries are basically in an air fryer. You make it without any fat andfrench fry processing industry thought was im- an idea that came from a few guys that didnt then you fry it and you can make really nice frenchpossible. Many had plunged money into researchknow anything about potatoes and really wanted fries, Gerard Backx, CEO of HZPC, says in a Skypeto find a low carb fry, but up until then none hadto achieve something. interview. been successful.Leon&Len friesare crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. PHOTO: LEON&LEN FRIES40 SPUDSMART.COM FALL 2020'