Frozen plant based food can form a large part of a vegan diet, for those who don't eat their fresh veggies fast enough and are left with a fridge full of food they can't use. I personally buy very little fresh as I know it will go to waste. With that in mind I take a look at the benefits of buying frozen foods over fresh.
Vegan on Female First
You can buy them in bulk- Fresh vegetables will go off if you don't make a conscious effort to use them up, but you can buy a trolley full of frozen veg if you only shop fortnightly or monthly and stock up your freezer.
They keep for longer- You don't have to let the rate of decomposition dictate what you have for dinner- you are free to choose what you want, when you want.
They have higher levels of antioxidants- In a study, featured in The Daily Mail, it found that frozen veggies and fruit contained more vitamin c, polyphenols, anthocyanin, lutein and beta-carotene. All of these reportedly work together to prevent cancer, support your body, brain, skin and eyes.
They are processed right away- Frozen fruits and vegetables are chilled soon after harvest so they seal in their freshness. 'Fresh' fruits and vegetables might have been stored for up to a month and then in your fridge at home for a few more days- meaning their nutrients become depleted.
You can have out of season produce- If you know something is going out of season you can bulk buy it when it is at its best and eat it all year round.
Frozen food is often steamed or blanched in hot water first- Which kills the bacteria- some of which might remain on fresh produce if not washed properly.
They're affordable- My local supermarket sells its veggies at around £1 per large bag and fruits are about £2 for a punnet. One bag/box of each will easily last a fortnight or a month if you're careful.
They require little effort- You don't have to peel or chop them- they are ready to be boiled or steamed from the packet- no knife or peeler required.
There's less waste- If you're cooking for one- you can get out what you need and put the rest away, there's no need to prepare the whole bag and then throw the leftovers away because they will keep.
They are suitable for people with busy lifestyles- Boiling or steaming veg can take around 15-30 minutes and all you have to do is throw them in and let the water do its thing, then serve. You can make meals in very little time at all with the comfort of knowing that your family is getting all the goodness it needs.
www.dailymail.co.uk
Tagged in Frozen fruit vegetables