Ode to Frozen Vegetables

Dear Frozen Vegetables,

Thank you for being here in my freezer.  I love the way you patiently wait to be consumed. Thank you for staying so fresh and delicious, even after several months of frozen monotony.  I thought you would be happy to know how much my family loves you.  My 4-year-old will even eat you frozen, straight from the freezer!  You are so thoughtful about being picked and harvested at the perfect level of ripeness so that your goodness is preserved.  You don't lose nutrients during processing and canning.  You usually don't have any added salt.  You keep all your nutrients during transport and sitting in the store, and most importantly, you don't rot in my fridge when I haven't had time to cook you.  

Most of all, thank you for being you.  You make my casseroles pretty, add balanced nutrition to my family's diet, and I can buy you in bulk when you are on sale because you last so long.

Love,

Amber

Frozen Vegetable Facts:

• They are picked at the peak of ripeness.
• Unlike canning*, these vegetables do not have added sodium.
• They are just as nutritious as fresh vegetables (and sometimes more so depending on harvest location, transit time, and shelf-life of fresh veges.)
• You can do just about anything with them in recipes!!  They can even be added to smoothies (in small amounts to blend with the other flavors) and your kids will never know.
• Kids often LOVE frozen fruits and vegetables, such as frozen peas, corn, blueberries, etc. (my son will often ask to eat a bowl of frozen peas for a snack!)
• They don't rot in your fridge when you haven't found the time to prepare them.  This is my biggest problem with fresh vegetables...my good intentions often become a moldy mess in the produce drawer.

So, as your neighborhood nutritionist, I recommend frozen vegetables of all types.  Throw them in soups, stews, and casseroles.  Stir-fry them, microwave them, blend them, eat them frozen. Enjoy!

*Note: Canned vegetables are useful, important non-perishable items to keep in our pantry.  Look for "reduced sodium" or "no salt added."  Fresh vegetables are also ideal items to have in our diet.  Try local farmers markets to get a variety of vegetables that have been harvested recently.