The COVID-19 pandemic has made eating in an everyday occurrence across the country, but for cancer patients who often have unique nutritional needs, at-home meal preparations can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, culinary experts at the OSUCCC – James are here to help with tips and easy-to-prepare recipes that can help cancer patients and caregivers get the most out of their homemade meals and snacks. “In The James Instructional Kitchen, we work with patients, outpatients and caregivers on personalized nutrition education plans,” says chef Stephanie Urrutia, RD, LD, a senior culinary educator at the OSUCCC – James. “We focus on high-protein, high-calorie and easy-to-eat recipes, and provide information tailored to the patients’ diagnoses. Today's Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries Our Sweet Potato Fries and dipping sauce combine to make a great treat, side dish or snack, high in nutrient density and flavor. It’s important to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in our day-to-day diets to get a diversity of vitamins and minerals. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamins A and C, potassium and beta carotene, as well as anthocyanins and other antioxidant-rich compounds. They come in a variety of colors — white, yellow, orange and purple — with the deeper the color correlating to a higher antioxidant concentration. All types of sweet potatoes are suitable for fries. If you want to make a colorful antioxidant-rich blend, try a combination of all three. The numerous anthocyanins and polyphenolics in the Sweet Potato Fries are important to keeping up strength during treatment, along with offering protective benefits against diseases for anyone enjoying these fries to gain. The dipping sauce is based on a combination of equal parts mayonnaise, Greek yogurt and parmesan cheese to provide thickness and tart flavor, in addition to an increase in protein. The dip can be seasoned with paprika as it is in the recipe or with any spice that is favorable — dried oregano for more of a Mediterranean flare, Italian seasoning to make a spread for an Italian sandwich or Cajun seasoning for a spiced-up sauce. Made in advance and stored in an air-tight container, the sauce can be used for the next 3-5 days to add calories and enhance a variety of dishes. As always, it’s important to remember that safe preparation and handling of foods is the most important factor for food preparation to make sure that you have lowered the risk for introducing foodborne illnesses, bacteria and viruses into your body. Ingredients Fries: 3 large sweet potatoes 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground black pepper Dipping sauce: ¼ cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt ¼ cup mayonnaise ½ cup parmesan cheese 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp garlic powder 1 pinch salt ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar Directions Pre-heat oven to 400⁰F Slice sweet potato into ¼ to ½ inch sticks Toss potatoes with olive oil in a medium bowl In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, salt and ground black pepper together Coat potatoes with spices Spread potatoes out evenly across baking sheet, with space between potatoes Bake for ~10-15 minutes until brown and crispy, flip and bake another 10-15 minutes While potatoes are cooking, mix all dipping sauce ingredients together, adjust seasonings to taste and let chill in refrigerator until ready to use; serve potatoes hot with dipping sauce