Wait Less for Weight Loss

The Big Vegi Question - Frozen, Fresh or Canned?

It may surprise you to learn that the most flavorful and healthful veggies aren’t necessarily those you find in your produce aisle at the grocery store.  In fact, you might end up getting more vitamins from those that are in cans or have been frozen.

The nutritional value of fresh versus canned/frozen vegetables has been up for debate recently, with surprising results.  It turns out that unless you’re buying veggies that have been freshly dug from the garden that day, canned or frozen varieties may actually contain more nutritional value. 

This surprising news isn’t so shocking if you consider how long it takes for most vegetables to travel to your grocery store.  They may have to spend several days in transit, then they might sit on the shelf for many more.  Consequently, by the time you pop one in your cart, that vegetable could have lost considerable amounts of vitamins.

On the other hand, vegetables that are canned or flash frozen are usually quite a bit fresher.  They are processed almost immediately after being picked (or a few days later in some cases) and therefore retain their wholesome nutrients.  They also have a long shelf life thanks to the miracle of processing; and as long as they haven’t been injected with sodium or other non-healthy items, they’ll make it to you as pure as when they were harvested.

Of course, some people still love their “fresh” veggies; after all, who doesn’t enjoy a delicious salad or nibble from a plate of cut-up carrots and broccoli?  But for cooking, try to substitute canned or frozen vegetables for their “fresh” counterparts often. 

Toss some into your favorite stews and soups.  Boil them in water (but not too long; the water will leach out some of the vitamins) or, better yet, steam them to perfection.  Open a can of green beans, heat for a few minutes, and enjoy as a side dish.  There are innumerous ways to creatively cook with canned or frozen items!

In the end, you’ll never notice a flavor difference, and although you might have to thaw some out (rather than throw them into stir fries or other dishes while they are still frozen), the cooking time won’t be that much different.  Best of all, you’ll be getting the most nutrients out of all your veggies.  

So the next time you’re at the supermarket, don’t stop thinking about vegetables after you move past the produce counter.  Make sure you stock up in the frozen food section as well.

SOURCES:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002095.htm http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/COLUMNNN/nn970122.html