French fries made from antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes, which contain significantly more nutrients than potatoes, are appearing on plates at Kappy’s Restaurant as part of its heart-healthy promotion.

During the promotion, which continues through June 18, diners who order the sweet potato fries will receive a ticket to enter a raffle for a Trek mountain bike, displayed at the restaurant. The drawing will take place June 19.

“I first tried sweet potato fries in Alabama seven years ago, and they were so good I tried to introduce them in the restaurant, but couldn’t find them,” said George Alpogianis, owner of Kappy’s, at 7200 W. Dempster, Morton Grove.

Three years ago, he found a reliable supplier and put them on the menu. Lately, however, as his children have been doing school projects about nutrition in the United States,

Alpogianis has decided to promote heart-healthy food in an attempt to wean people off regular-potato French fries, which offer less nutrition.

One medium sweet potato contains a day’s supply of Vitamin A, about one-third the daily supply of Vitamin C and 15 percent of dietary fiber, all for 105 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Kappy’s is frying them up in canola oil, which contains zero percent transfats, rather than the beef lard many restaurants use. It offers a honey mustard or chipotle ranch dip.

Diners can also find other heart-healthy options on the menu, including a revamped list of salads and an expanded collection of daily specials that incudes many fish dishes. One offering Alpogianis said he likes to recommend is chipotle-tortilla-encrusted tilapia with pineapple-mango salsa.