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

The potato chip began in Europe, with Belgium and France claiming its creation. The potato chip is strictly American. (In any case, the explorer Marco Polo missed it.) Centuries ago, the humble potato was abundant and cheap, traveled well, and lent itself to different 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 “potato chips”.

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

Originally avoided as an unhealthy root vegetable and used as pig feed, these French inventives turned 180 degrees and began serving them as a delicacy. French fries spread to the United States, and President Thomas Jefferson first served thin, crisp fries to guests at the White House after enjoying them on one of his trips to France. Americans soon discovered that the potato was inexpensive and easy to grow, and a welcome addition to their everyday meals. Hearty soups and chowders fed large families, and as cooks began experimenting with variations on the potato, new recipes sprang up across the country.

When hamburgers became popular, thanks to early chains like White Castle and eventually McDonald’s, 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 guests. But the general public didn’t get a chance to enjoy the crunchy delight until snack foods became popular in the 20th century. The chips led the way and were originally sold in cans. With all the flavors on offer, 50 percent of American households still prefer the plain taste. Americans consume half of the world’s production, totaling more than seven billion dollars a year. That translates to almost 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 most popular vegetable in the country. Grind it, bake it, fry it, boil it. Who would have thought that the humble potato, once considered fit only for feeding pigs, could become our favorite snack?