Happy National Frozen Food Day Friends!  I know, it’s not the most exciting holiday in the world, but I thought it would be a fun way to share all the things I keep my freezer stock full of.  Heads up, I took pictures at Trader Joe’s but these tips and items apply pretty much everywhere! So let’s get to it.

Are Frozen Foods Healthy?

I get this question often.  The answer is, sometimes they are and sometimes they aren’t.  A lot of items are actually just as healthy as fresh.  You just need to know what to look for!

Fruits & Vegetables

Frozen by themselves (no sauces or anything in addition) are just as healthy as fresh if not more so.  They are often frozen right after harvest so all the nutrients are retained, possibly more than fresh produce which probably traveled thousands of miles to get to you.

I always keep frozen fruit on hand for smoothies, mostly berries, and frozen bananas.

One of my favorite frozen vegetables is green beans, unlike other frozen veggies that get kind of soggy, I think they come out delicious!

I also love riced cauliflower frozen better than fresh, I feel like it cooks up a little bit better.  Not sure why!

Another favorite is any kind of premade frozen veggie noodles like the carrot and zucchini they have at Trader Joe’s.  I defrost them and then use them in stir fries like this one and this one. 

Meats & Fish

Frozen by themselves (no breading or sauce) are potentially safer than fresh cuts because they’ve been kept at a colder temperature more immediately.

I also always try to keep some pre-made frozen burgers on hand for emergencies, they are the easiest thing ever to pan fry or grill when you need a quick protein source!

Frozen Grains

I love buying pre-cooked  frozen brown rice and quinoa.  I know it’s a little bit more expensive but it’s just so easy to pull them out of the freezer and have them ready in 30 seconds!

Another great ==option is precooked frozen oats, especially steel cut oats since they typically take so long to make.  There are typically less preservatives than packaged oatmeal because freezing acts as the preservative.

Frozen whole grain waffles are another favorite of mine.  I just have to be careful to make sure to read the ingredients to make sure they are actually whole grain.  It’s easy to smear them with nut butter in the morning for a quick breakfast.  (Remember protein is important in the AM, that’s why I put collagen in my coffee!)

 

Prepared Foods

These can be great options for when you are running short on time but there are a few considerations:

• Preservatives
• Excess Sodium (acts as a flavor enhancer and preservative)

Look for products you can read all the ingredients on and watch the sodium content.  Try not to make a habit of eating only from the freezer and in most cases (no pre-existing medical conditions) you will be fine.

Some of my favorite options are frozen pizzas!  Okay this definitely shouldn’t be an every day thing but it saves money versus ordering and you can get healthier options.  Look for a whole grain crust, ideally thin crust and for uncured nitrate free meat (if any.)

Cauliflower Pizza Crust is a great option too!  I order my favorite one every from Cali’flour Foods 

There are a ton of healthy options out there that can make your life easier.  I just mostly shop at Trader Joe’s since there is one so close.  I’m sure you guys have your favorites, I’d love to hear about them!  Leave a comment and tell your favorite healthy frozen foods brand or meal item so we can all enjoy them!