Chili fries are French fried potatoes smothered in chili and topped with grated American or cheddar cheeses. You can make this tempting platter at home using fresh cut potatoes, homemade chili and grated cheeses. By preparing it yourself, you can control the calories and fat through substitution. You also may want to enjoy this dish as a meal and not as a side dish. Chili cheese fries are a favorite at such chili restaurants as Carl's Jr. and Sonic.
Calories
The number of calories in a serving not only depends on the cooking method, but also on the amount you eat. At Carl's Jr., their 320 g serving will cost you 950 calories, but at Sonic, their 326 g serving is 850 calories. Johnny Rockets 337 g serving boasts the smallest calorie amount for their chili fries at 710 calories per plate.
Carbohydrates
Potatoes are complex carbohydrates. A single medium-sized serving of French fries contains 50 g of carbohydrates. The number of carbohydrates required daily depends upon several factors including weight, frame and activity level. The average 35-year old woman weighing 135 lb. and lightly active requires between 150 and 200 g of carbohydrates per day. A 326 g serving of chili fries at Sonic contains 98 g of carbohydrates, but a 320 g serving at Carl's Jr. has 83 g of carbohydrates.
Proteins
Proteins are used by the body to build strong muscles and as a precursor to many different enzymes. A 337 g serving of chili fries at Johnny Rockets yields 17 g of protein. By contrast, a 320 g serving of chili fries at Carl's Jr. has 27 g of protein. The majority of the protein comes from the chili and cheese in the recipe.
Fats
Fats in foods can be monounsaturated, saturated or trans fats. Monounsaturated fat is healthy for the body and needed to build enzymes and provide energy for the brain, while the saturated and trans fats contribute to heart disease and atherosclerosis. The nutritional value of fat in chili fries will depend upon the method by which they are made. For instance, at Sonic a 326 g serving of chili fries contains 380 calories from fat, 43 g of total fat, of which 14 g are saturated fat. By comparison, the 320 g serving of chili fries at Carl's Jr. contains 490 calories from fat, 55 total g of fat and 18 g of saturated fats.
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