Look, when it comes to healthy and balanced eating the prime focus should be on diversity and nutrient density. Seasonal, fresh produce is the most appropriate choice generally for maximum nutrition.
That being stated loud and clear, my pantry does have frozen and canned veggies too. Some staples I commonly use are canned tomatoes for quick pasta or pizza sauce. Some of these canned veggies make meal preparation easier. But I recommend you to read the label before buying and check for salt and sugar content. Always opt for the least or no sugar and salt variety whenever possible. Also look for cans with BPA-free lining. It will be stated on the label if it’s BPA-free.
Canned vegetables lose some of their water-soluble nutrients during processing. So be mindful over the use of canned veggies and fruits. They may even be high in sodium, something that you should avoid.
When it comes to frozen vegetables and fruits, they are mostly higher in nutrient value than canned counterparts. Since they are usually frozen soon after they are picked, their nutrients are well preserved and they are super convenient. However, cruciferous vegetables are best when fresh because of their amazing compound sulforaphane that neutralizes toxins, may slow tumor growth, reduces inflammations and may even protect your DNA.
Practically, I like to freeze some seasonal vegetables and fruits for off seasons. For example, here in Europe, I find plenty of fresh organic kale in the farmers market in the winter season. So for me it’s a great idea to buy more, clean and freeze them in zip locks or sealable bags for use in summer.
BUT KEEP FOLLOWING US, BECAUSE I’ll BE SHARING SOME COOL COOKING HACKS WITH YOU ON ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT HOW YOU CAN OPTIMIZE YOUR FROZEN GREENS AND CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES FOR GREATER HEALTH BENEFITS.
Lastly, I am a big fan of seasonal veggies so the frozen kales are just for occasional use and some diversity in my smoothies for example. Same goes for green peas or fresh corn.
Freezing seasonal veggies and fruits are also cheaper than buying them fresh during off seasons. These days you can get any vegetables and fruits in any part of the world at any time of the year, right? But eating seasonal food cannot be emphasized enough. I will probably write about this topic on my blog soon as to why eating seasonal is so important?