Feel the Chill: The Truth About Healthy Frozen Meals

Healthy Frozen Meals Are … Healthy!

The first question that probably comes to mind in a discussion about frozen foods: Are frozen vegetables healthy? 

Researchers asked that same question. Their study, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, found that frozen produce has as much nutritional value as fresh produce. They also found that, over time, frozen foods are healthier than fresh produce because frozen foods do not lose nutrients during storage, whereas fresh produce begins to lose its nutritional value the longer it’s stored.

In addition to nutrition, there are many other reasons to add healthy frozen foods to your shopping list.

Convenience

“Convenience is an undeniable motivator for many consumers. Lifestyles are shifting and the convenience of frozen is seeing a huge increase in market size, value and trajectory,” says Dennigan. Frozen foods are fast, simple and healthy all wrapped together in one convenient package, perfect for people with busy lifestyles.

Budget-friendly

Most frozen vegetables cost less per pound than their fresh counterparts. And, how often have you had to throw away spoiled fresh fruits and vegetables that were hiding in the back of your produce drawer? You get an additional cost-benefit (indirectly saving money) when you choose frozen over fresh.

Longer shelf life

On average, frozen foods can be stored for eight to ten months without losing any nutritional value. And because frozen foods can be preserved long-term without changing or going bad, healthy frozen foods are preservative-free.

Less food waste

Many of the best frozen meals come in pre-portioned serving sizes. This is a great way to reduce the amount of uneaten scraps or leftovers that may not get eaten.

“There are great frozen plant-based options out there right now, and we’re only at the beginning of the market curve for it,” says Dennigan.