To be Frozen or not to be Frozen

My dad recently asked me if frozen foods are healthy…I remember reading somewhere they are high in sodium and have tons of preservatives but to make sure I went on a research via the Internet!!!!

Ok – Here is what I have gathered from my research:

Yes, many frozen foods are high in sodium but there are some that are OK. Also, most frozen foods don't have preservatives (because freezing prevents spoilage) BUT I LEARNED MORE!!!

Frozen fruits and veggies hold the same amount of nutritional value as fresh fruits and veggies. Research has found that frozen foods may hold the nutritional value LONGER* but make sure you thaw them before you use them…try not to zap them in the microwave :-)

Now, here are some bullet points and yes, I will require you to look at the nutritional label…awe the simple things in life!

-Calorie Count: Look for one that is around 300-400 calories BUT you need to incorporate an additional side – salad, veggies, brown rice OR greek yogurt with fruit.  By doing this it should leave you fuller longer (you don’t want to be hungry an hour later right?!??!)

-Sodium - less than 800 milligrams**

-Fat – Look for no more than 30% of the calorie intake and no more than 4 grams of saturated fat***

-Fiber – At least 3-5 grams of Fiber***

-Avoid: Those frozen veggies or entrees with sauces or gravies (maybe you have a sauce at home you can add too it…but portion control !!!)

A few frozen food entrees with some of these characteristics are: healthy choice, lean cuisine and Kashi NOT hungryman*

Go ahead…print this out…take it to the grocery store this weekend…try it…I dare you :-)

Here are a few websites that provide some frozen foods options:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/top-12-healthy-frozen-dinners-577092?click=main_sr

http://www.mamashealth.com/nutrition/lowcalfroz.asp

Sources:
*Building Nutrition
**eHow
***Good Housekeeping