Let me see now…I can talk about the health benefits of cod liver oil or a new study that proves french fries are an anti-depressant. Hmmmm. This is a tough one, I better call for a life line -- I ring my friend Kristen. She politely tells me she can’t talk right now because she’s busy, I need to grow up, get a real job and quit calling her every ten minutes – then she slams the phone down. What could I possibly do to lift my spirits? Good thing I just happen to have that study right here that says french fries can counteract depression and actually make you happy. You say potato, I say Prozac.

Research has found french fries lighten even the bleakest of moods, making us calmer and more upbeat. Doctors believe the effect is due to the carbohydrates and because the taste and smell remind us of good times, such as wonderful childhood memories -- I remember my first Happy Meal like it was yesterday. It had a tiny Beanie Baby inside that I just loved, until my brother David used it to clean the toilet. He wanted to get back at me because I (accidentally) microwaved his Stretch Armstrong. My brother never apologized, my mom took his side, (like she always does) and that Beanie Baby would be worth $200 today! Okay, I’m getting myself upset, where’s my double order of chili cheese fries so I can calm down?

Fries, chips, pommes frites or poutine, when it comes to elevating our moods (and cholesterol) you can’t beat a fried, salted potato. Next time Kristen hangs up on me, I’m going to give her a piece of my mind -- and a Fry Baby with 5 pounds of russets. I’m grateful for french fries because I don’t need an RX or a bunch of chemicals to make me feel good when I’m blue. I just need a drive-thru window.

That’s why I’m grateful for french fries.