You just got home after a busy day working, running errands, and driving your kids around to their after-school activities. You realize that you didn’t plan anything for dinner. So, it looks like a frozen meal is on the menu tonight.
But don’t feel guilty about not offering a homecooked meal. There are a lot of misconceptions about frozen food.
“There’s this expectation and thought that eating heathy or living a healthy life should be difficult,” says Sofia Whitefields, a registered dietitian at University of Utah Health’s OSHER Center for Integrative Health . “Food can be easy and accessible to everyone.”
Freezing is what keeps food fresh longer. Many frozen foods aren’t highly processed and don’t contain added preservatives, even though they’re considered less nutritious. They can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. Here’s how. 1. Stock up on fruit and vegetables
There’s no shame in eating frozen fruit and veggies. It can be a smarter choice for your wallet and nutrient quality.
“From a nutrient standpoint, they are in some ways superior,” Whitefields says. “Fruit and vegetables are picked at the peak of their ripeness, so the nutrient quality stays in prime condition compared to when things travel on a truck, go to a grocery store, and then sit in your fridge. Those nutrients might degrade over time.”
Buying frozen can also help with food waste. Fresh fruit and vegetables only last a few days, but frozen foods are safe indefinitely if stored continuously at 0°F, according to FoodSafety.gov . The best part is they don’t need to be defrosted before cooking. 2. Don’t forget protein
You can freeze almost any food, but having frozen fish, meat, and poultry can come in handy and be cost-effective. Just remember that it takes time for meat to properly and safely defrost , so make sure to plan your meal ahead of time.
“I always have a bag of shrimp or chicken sausage in my freezer,” Whitefields says. “On busy days when you get home and have nothing defrosted, you can easily cook frozen shrimp on the pan. This can easily be added to […]
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