Let's get clear on the frozen facts!
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| | Once I entered my 30s and stopped thinking of my health in the abstract, I started trying a lot harder to eat more fruits and vegetables. And it was a big struggle. Despite being financially stable with no dependents and a job that (thank goodness) didn't have me working 'round the clock, I still had to try really hard to make fruits and veggies a part of every meal. | | And you know why? Because I insisted on eating fresh produce. Somehow, I'd fallen for the myth that fresh fruits and veggies were more nutritious than the frozen ones. | | Then I learned that wasn't the case at all, and ever since, frozen produce has helped me keep my plate full of fiber and nutrients — without having to hit the grocery store multiple times a week. Today, Annie Hibbs, a registered dietitian at Healthline, helps us debunk this common myth. | | | | In honor of frozen peas,
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
January 18, 2024 • 4 min read | | | |  | | | Q: | Are frozen fruits and vegetables less nutritious than when they're fresh? | | | A: | It's a popular myth that fruits and vegetables need to be fresh in order to pack a nutritional punch. Studies show that frozen produce is nutritionally similar to fresh and can be even more nutritious than when it's fresh.
That's because produce that's destined to be frozen is often harvested — and frozen — at peak ripeness. This is the point when fruits and vegetables contain the most vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants. Freezing produce also helps it retain nutrients.
Fresh produce, on the other hand, is harvested before it reaches full ripeness. This may prevent some nutrients from reaching levels seen in fruits or vegetables that ripened on the plant. Fresh produce also spends between 3 days and 3 weeks in transit before landing on supermarket shelves, where it will sit for another few days before it gets into your shopping bag.
Pro tip: Use frozen produce within a year. Once it's been frozen for longer than that, it starts to lose nutritional value.
Things to consider when buying frozen produce: - Aim for plain frozen vegetables. Ones with sauces, seasonings, or added sugar can add fat and sodium. Jazz up the vegetables yourself by adding your own separate seasonings and spices, or mix them with other foods.
- With any storage method, nutrients break down over time. Look at the "best used by" date on the package to gauge when to use the frozen produce to get the most out of the nutrients it has to offer.
The important thing is making fruits and vegetables a regular part of your daily diet. If the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and prolonged shelf life of frozen produce make it easier to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your meal plan, take advantage of them and enjoy! | | | | | Annie Hibbs, Registered Dietitian | | | Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads-up: We may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) | | | Presented by | |  | | | | | Kiss the cook | | | | | | |  | | EveryPlate | | It feels like groceries are getting more expensive every day. With EveryPlate's meal kit service, you'll get simple, flavorful ingredients and recipes without breaking the bank. Their filling, delicious, and easy-to-follow recipes will teach you skills to become a better home cook. | | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | What we're digesting | | 🦠 Signs of an unhealthy gut — and what to do about it. Don't sleep on your gut health, friends! | | 🫘 Top 20 foods high in soluble fiber. These choices can keep your digestion running smoothly. | | 🥕 What's a healthy calorie deficit? Well, first off, you shouldn't be experiencing noticeable signs of hunger. | | 🧘 Sign up for our flagship health and wellness newsletter! We do the research so you don't have to. | | | Thanks for reading, folks! Meet us here on Sunday — same place, same time. Kenny's got a chipotle chicken recipe he's been waiting to share with you all! | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
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