The Facts on Frozen
Did you know that there is virtually no difference between fresh and frozen vegetables in vitamin and mineral content? Prepared meals that are frozen deliver fresh taste, convenience and value while also helping with portion and calorie control. Here are some of the reasons you can rely on frozen foods when planning meals:
Freezing Locks in Freshly Prepared Goodness
- Freezing is a natural method of preservation that upholds quality, prolongs shelf life and retains nutritional value by immediately locking in goodness.
- Many frozen foods are freshly prepared, quickly frozen and kept that way until you’re ready to enjoy.
- Many frozen fruits and vegetables are processed within hours of harvest helping to lock-in their vitamins and minerals, as well as preserving their quality.
- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, frozen fruits and vegetables are equally nutritious to their fresh and canned counterparts.
Frozen Foods offer Variety and Convenience
- Frozen foods are always at-the-ready. A fresh tasting, nutritious meal is just minutes away when you have a well-stocked freezer.
- Most frozen entrées can be cooked directly from the freezer, with no additional preparation needed.
- Variety is the spice of life – and important for a healthy diet. Keeping a wide variety of frozen foods on hand, including fruits, vegetables and nutritious frozen entrées, makes it easier to consume a varied diet.
- Frozen fruits and vegetables know all seasons – you can enjoy them all year long.
- Using frozen foods lets you cook just the amount you need to make a delicious and nutritious meal at home – that means less waste and more money saved.
Fitting Frozen into a Healthy Diet
- Most frozen foods are comparable nutritionally to many homemade recipes. Check out the calories, fat and sodium amounts, and you be the judge.
- Watching your weight? Frozen entrées are pre-portioned, so it’s easier to keep calories in check.
- Heating a frozen entrée is just as fast – or faster – than picking up take-out.
- Frozen foods are budget-friendly. Frozen fruits and vegetables are frequently less expensive than their fresh counterparts. And, taking a frozen entrée to work for lunch is often more economical than eating at the cafeteria or a restaurant.
- Because frozen foods feature both nutrition labels and ingredient statements, you know exactly what you’ve chosen to eat.
Named one of “The World’s Most Admired Food Companies” in Fortune magazine for seventeen consecutive years, Nestlé provides quality brands that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine® to baking traditions with Nestlé® Toll House®, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverages that make good living possible. That’s what “Nestlé. Good Food, Good Life” is all about. Nestlé USA, with 2013 sales of $10 billion, is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness — with 2013 sales of $99 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA.
For more Together Counts kitchen tips take a look at these other posts: