Most people in England love nothing more than a bag of chips by the seaside. But wrapping them in newspaper is now banned for health and safety, and most chip shops use palm oil. Instead, try this 3-ingredienet recipe for baked French fries (Simple Vegan Blog). Just Russet potatoes, and a little salt and olive oil. Don’t give pets or birds leftover chips, as salt is toxic to them.
Be careful with fast food restaurants as some cook chips in the same oil as meat (KFC fries are cooked in the same oil as their popcorn chicken and abroad, McDonald’s fries are made with ‘beef-like seasoning’). Some chip shops sell ‘banana blossom’ fish (which sounds like too much hard work). Simply order wholesale vegan hot dogs and fishless fillets, more lkely to appeal to everyday tastes.
Having said that, local chippys need to be saved from fast food chains littering our streets. it). One farmer had a great idea, to print the registration number of drive-thru customers. So if they lob the packaging out the window, they get a fine in the post, just like with speeding. Most chip shops wrap in paper, so refuse plastic forks (soon to be banned) and plastic bags (makes chips go soggy anyway). Vegware sells good plastic-free packaging for other items (like pots for mushy peas).
The best alternative is to make your own. And you don’t have to live near the seaside. Even people in Leicestershire or Derbyshire (the two most central counties) can enjoy these recipes! First, throw out your deep-fat fryer (your local fire service will thank you) and replace with an air-fryer from Argos, with little/no oil and safety cut-outs. Or better yet, bake your fries.
This recipe (ElaVegan) is for chilli-cheez fries, but you can omit the sauce and just serve with salt and vinegar (or smothered with melted vegan cheese for a simpler option.
where to buy ‘seaside chips’
We think the best brand is Strong Roots Proper Chips, sold in most supermarkets. Made with potatoes and sunflower oil, there are also skinny chips, sweet potato fries, crispy crinkle fries and root vegetable fries. Recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins (they print the carbon footprint of all packaging).