Healthy options available during Frozen Food Month

March is National Frozen Food items Month, and frozen greens and fruits are healthy alternatives, offering plenty of nutritional vitamins, fiber and nutrition.

Clarence Frank Birdseye II is known as the inventor of frozen foodstuff. He was also a pioneer in foodstuff preservation, in accordance to Teresa Henson, Extension professional-program outreach coordinator for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s University of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences.

In the course of March, several shops offer income on frozen food items, together with veggies and fruits. Frozen fruits and veggies are ordinarily picked, processed and frozen within just 24 several hours, she stated. In winter season, mainly because of the fast turnaround time for processing frozen veggies and fruits, these meals may perhaps have much more vitamins and minerals than their fresh counterparts and can be a much healthier selection.

“Birdseye’s get the job done stemmed from doing the job in the Arctic, where he was amazed at how the Arctic natives processed their fish by retaining it cold making use of a freezing technique,” she stated. “Given that the method was a big strike, he figured out approaches to freeze other meals such as fruits and greens.”

His experiment led him to generate the “brief freeze device” in 1930. The development has because flooded the meals frozen sector with billions of bucks vested in the business by buyers and corporations, Henson stated.

The flavor and quality of frozen foodstuff has enormously enhanced considering that 1930.

“To be on the route to superior wellness, you should take in various colours of fruits and veggies. You need to ‘eat the rainbow,'” Henson claimed. “Try to make at minimum half your plate fruits and/or vegetables.”

Frozen develop is a handy way to consume additional fruits and greens, she said. They can conveniently be additional to numerous recipes. Some styles of frozen create can be merely thawed and additional to salads. Selections for this incorporate corn, peas and environmentally friendly beans.

Frozen greens are also fantastic additions to stews, soups, stir-fry and other cooked dishes. Frozen vegetables and fruits are a healthier option–they have a lot of vitamins, fiber and nutrition.

“Look on package labels for frozen create that does not have included body fat, salt or sugar,” Henson mentioned. “As a substitute of acquiring veggies in sauces or fruits in syrups, glance for choices that are just the frozen fruit or vegetable. They will be the most versatile for the reason that you can add them to distinctive dishes in portions you pick out and season them any way you want.”

The concept of freezing food items has produced it handy for all people to put together uncomplicated, scrumptious and healthy foods, she reported. Nevertheless, there are food security recommendations you require to observe when storing foods in the refrigerator and freezer. Verify out the Cold Food Storage Chart at https://www.foodsafety.gov/food items-protection-charts/chilly-meals-storage-charts. The chart highlights food items according to the suitable temperature to freeze, and refrigeration.

For an easy, balanced dinner decision that takes advantage of frozen vegetables, test this pot pie recipe, Henson said. The recipe serves 6.

Effortless Hen POT PIE

Substances

1 2/3 cups frozen blended vegetables (thawed)

1 cup cooked hen (reduce-up)

1 can cream of rooster soup, small-fat (10 3/4 oz, condensed)

1 cup baking blend, diminished unwanted fat (such as Jiffy Blend or Bisquick)

1/2 cup milk (non-extra fat)

1 egg

Directions

Clean fingers and any cooking surfaces. Pre-heat oven to 400˚ F. Mix veggies, chicken and soup in an ungreased, 9-inch pie plate. Stir remaining elements in a mixing bowl with fork right up until blended. Pour in excess of veggies and rooster in pie plate. Bake 30 minutes or right up until golden brown. Permit great 5 minutes and serve.

Diet facts per serving (1/6 of cup): 189 energy, 4g extra fat, 716mg sodium, 13g protein.

Supply: Texas Cooperative Extension, the Texas A&M University Program, Expanded Diet Program.

Debbie Archer is an Extension associate-communications with the UAPB College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences.