There is a myth that frozen vegetables aren’t good for you. Frozen vegetables can have additives that make them less healthy. However, frozen vegetables without additives are usually frozen promptly after harvesting, meaning they maintain peak nutrition.
Most frozen veggies are blanched, a term for being briefly boiled, before they are frozen. It helps them retain their color, texture and flavor while also killing bacteria. However, it may cause some nutrient loss.
While blanching causes nutrient loss, so does sitting in the fridge! A study found that produce left in the fridge for five days was less nutritious than frozen vegetables. The longer a veggie is frozen, the more nutrients degrade, so use your frozen veggies within a year of buying them.
Frozen veggies are a favorite of ours. They are more convenient than fresh veggies; you can always have them on hand; you don’t have to worry about them spoiling in the fridge. You don’t have to worry about what is in season; it’s in the store’s freezer section and ready to go! And frozen veggies are less expensive. But, you must read the nutrition label to ensure there aren’t additives. And they don’t work in a salad because they must be cooked. But other than that, we don’t see any drawbacks!
As the weather gets colder, the “fresh” produce in our supermarkets becomes less fresh. Right now, many things are being harvested. But soon, everything will be out of season, and the whole produce section will be imported from around the world. That’s when stuff gets expensive and less nutritious! Head to the frozen section instead.
Some frozen vegetables are better than others for your blood sugar. For instance, cauliflower has five grams of carbs with three grams of fiber. You can buy it as florets perfect for stir-frying, roasting or soup or get cauliflower rice. Cauliflower rice is excellent as a rice substitute or perfect when mashed in place of potatoes! We’re also huge fans of frozen broccoli. It’s high in sulforaphane, a compound that can aid insulin sensitivity.
Spinach may be the king of frozen vegetables. A cup has seven grams of carbs with 4.5 grams of fiber. It can be added to soups, dips and casseroles. Plus, there’s the way most children eat spinach — hidden in meatloaf. Not all adults like veggies. You can return to your mom’s tricks and play them on yourself! Hide veggies in your own food; you’ll know they’re there but won’t taste them.
Kale is another excellent leafy green to grab from the frozen section. It’s usually very fibrous and needs to be messaged to be enjoyed. But you can cook with it immediately out of the freezer. It is highly nutritious and has less than a gram of carbs, almost wholly fiber!
We also love Brussels sprouts from the frozen aisle. We know that not everyone loves Brussels. But if you roast them, they become crispy and nutty with some natural sweetness. Plus, they have six grams of fiber and vitamin C. Plus, if you are a fan of Brussels, the amount of money you will save buying frozen instead of fresh will shock you!
There are many great options in the frozen aisle, these are just our favorites. If you read the labels to ensure you are buying a product that is 100 percent veggie, you’ll have a hard time going wrong! Any way to make getting more vegetables into your meals is an excellent choice!
