Which is better?
The USDA recommends eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. However, when you are in the grocery store, you might be stuck deciding whether to buy fresh or frozen. Traditionally, fresh fruits and vegetables have been the gold standard, but here are a few reasons why frozen produce might be the way to go!
01 Nutritional Value
Research shows frozen produce to be just as nutritious, if not more, than fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is picked at their ripest but a lot of the nutrients can be lost due to temperature changes, light exposure, or long storage times during transport or in the grocery store. Frozen produce are still picked at their ripest but immediately blanched and frozen. This process preserves the nutrient content in the produce, making them just as healthy as fresh!
Frozen produce is often less expensive than fresh. I recently purchased a 40-ounce bag of frozen blueberries for $10, as one small pint of fresh can be anywhere from $4- $5.
We have a short window of time to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Often times I find myself throwing wilted or spoiled produce away. With frozen fruits and vegetables, you eat them when YOU are ready. There is no food waste. Another benefit is that frozen produce is often peeled and pre-cut, saving you a lot of prep time at meals!
If you feel like frozen produce works for you, remember these tips when shopping at the grocery store.
- Check the label for added salt and sauces that can add extra sodium and calories. You want the only ingredient to be the fruit or vegetable.
- There are sweetened and unsweetened versions of frozen fruits. Buy the unsweetened fruits for no added sugar.
- Nutrients can be lost when thawing frozen produce. When cooking, transfer the produce directly from the freezer to the microwave or cooking pot.
Regardless of fresh or frozen, it is important to eat your fruits and vegetables! So whether you are headed to the farmer’s market or the freezer section of the store, aim for those 5-9 servings every day. If you need inspiration, check out this blog post to help you reach your goal!