7 Tips for Making Healthy Tater Tots
Caring for your health doesn’t necessarily mean forgoing your favorite foods like the Tots at Freddy’s. In fact, putting foods on some sort of naughty or nice list might actually lead to unhealthy choices, as explained at Owensboro Health. Instead, changing up your preparation methods, sauces, ingredients and more may make it easier to enjoy a dish like one of your homemade tater tot casseroles while keeping your health in mind. If you’ve got a craving for hot crispy bites of potato, check out the following ideas for healthy tater tot choices!
Healthy Tater Tot Tips to Try!
There are plenty of ways for foods that have a reputation for being healthy to become less nutritious (just ask salad!). However, the reverse can also be true with some simple adjustments suited to individual health needs and preferences. Here are some suggestions to consider with regard to healthy tater tot choices!
1. Prepare air fryer tater tots. Especially in comparison to other frying methods, air-frying tater tots requires much less oil while still achieving the desired texture. Why might you opt for the air fryer if you have one versus baking the tater tots in the oven (another cooking method that requires less oil)? Using the air fryer to prepare your tater tots can help speed up the cooking process!
2. Consider healthier ingredient swaps for your favorite tater tot dishes. Whether for a favorite kid-friendly tater tot recipe or another preparation, a few changes may increase the overall nutritional profile of the dish. For example, using lean ground beef, lower-fat cheese choices or more veggies than tater tots are simple moves that may support healthier tater tot times.
3. Take another look at your sauce selection. Healthy tater tot consumption can also be supported by re-evaluating your sauce selection or making your own with the intention of increasing the nutritional benefits. In addition to sharing our more comprehensive nutrition and allergen information on our website, calorie information is also available on our menu. If you are longing for that dipping experience with your tots but are monitoring your calorie intake, you might save a few calories with Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce® (listed at 30 calories) instead of a container of ranch (listed at 140).
4. Make your own tater tots. Healthier versions of your favorite snacks, meals and treats, can sometimes be easier to achieve at home versus trying to find them in the grocery store freezer near you. For example, in making your own healthy tater tots, you can sneak in some extra veggies, as in this recipe from Kathy’s Vegan Kitchen, or better manage the amount of salt, fat and more that may be included.
5. Opt for sweet potato tots. Making your tots with sweet potatoes or finding packaged bites that use this potato may offer additional nutritional benefits in comparison to nuggets made with white potatoes. As reflected in the side-by-side comparison of each potato at Healthline, white potatoes may come out ahead in terms of potassium, but sweet potatoes dominate with regard to Vitamin A in particular, as well as Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C.
6. Cut up your crispy tater tots and use them like croutons. As a side or in baked meals, whole tater tots often serve as the focus of the dish. One idea for a healthier approach to tater tot consumption is to consider incorporating them in a different way. For example, sprinkle your tater tot pieces on top of a healthy lunch idea, like a Buddha bowl. As highlighted at Choosing Chia, many recipes for this type of meal call for a potato component and other textural elements anyway. So, using tater tots in a different way in a dish that already includes many healthy and nutritious components might help you satisfy your tater tot craving and healthy eating intentions.
7. Try salt-free seasoning blends. If using prepared tater tots is necessary for convenience, quick preparation or otherwise, then consider other ways that you can make the finished dish a bit healthier. For example, use a seasoning blend without salt to add flavor instead of relying on sauces or other toppings, which can sometimes add even more sodium and calories to the overall dish. EatingWell offers some recommendations for prepared salt-free seasoning blends, but you might also just create your own!
At Freddy’s, we know that our guests have different preferences when it comes to their orders, as well as possible dietary considerations. Our nutrition and allergen information helps provide transparency about these aspects of our offerings, so you can choose the dish from our menu that works best for you and customize it accordingly! Stop by the Freddy’s near you for Tots and other savory sides, as well as mouthwatering steakburgers, chicken sandwiches, frozen custard and more!