Do you want fries with that? No fries, fries

Why do Americans love French fries so much? While its popularity spans the globe, we Americans devour nearly 2 million tons each year. They make the perfect companion with burgers or just on their own. And chips? Who can eat just one?

The potato chip started in Europe, with Belgium and France claiming their creation. The potato chip is strictly American. (In any case, the explorer Marco Polo missed it.) Centuries ago, the humble potato was plentiful, cheap, traveled well, and lent itself to a variety of preparations, making it a popular food in Europe. The French fried it and called it “pommes frites”. The popular dish made its way to the United States and was called “French fries.” In the 1930s, the name was shortened to “french fries.”

Food historians will argue that French fries became popular in Belgium as early as the 17th century. Some claim that they may have been a substitute for small fried fish, when the rivers froze over and fishing was almost impossible. They became popular as a tasty side dish and made their way to France, whose chefs were always open to new foods and cooking styles.

Originally shunned as an unhealthy root vegetable and used as pig feed, these inventive Frenchmen did a 180-degree turn and began serving them as a delicacy. French fries spread to the United States, and President Thomas Jefferson first served thin, crispy French fries to guests at the White House, after enjoying them on one of his trips to France. Americans soon discovered that the potato was cheap and easy to grow, and a welcome addition to their daily meals. Hearty soups and fish soups fed large families, and as cooks began to experiment with variations of the potato, new recipes sprang up across the country.

When hamburgers became popular, thanks to early chains like White Castle and eventually McDonald’s, French fries were an economic partner, not to mention a huge profit for restaurants. They were easy to eat, unlike the baked or pureed versions, and could be served in a small paper envelope.

The creation of the fries goes to a New Yorker named George Crum, chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, and the light crisp discovery was an instant hit with the guests. But the general public didn’t get a chance to enjoy the crunchy delight until snack foods became popular in the 20th century. Chips led the way and were originally sold in cans. With all the flavors thrown at us, 50 percent of American households still prefer the plain flavor. Americans consume half of the world’s production, totaling more than $7 billion a year. That translates to nearly five pounds a year per person. And that’s just chips. Calculate in other ways, and you have 110 pounds of potatoes per year per person. (That’s a lot of starch.)

So there you have it: a brief history of the country’s most popular vegetable. Crush it, bake it, fry it, boil it. Who would have thought that the humble potato, once considered only suitable for feeding pigs, could become our favorite snack?