March is National Frozen Food Month, which is a great reminder that frozen foods are a convenient and delicious way to eat within a family's food budget, according to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI).
The advantages of frozen foods include:
- Frozen foods are nutritious: Fruits and vegetables are harvested and quickly flash-frozen within hours to lock in key nutrients, vitamins and minerals like riboflavin, vitamins C and E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, fiber and phenolics.
- Frozen foods reduce consumer food waste: Frozen foods don't spoil in the freezer so consumers can eat all that they buy; unused portions can be returned to the freezer to be used for another meal. This reduces food waste and saves families money.
- The frozen food aisle is packed with affordable, healthier choices: Grocery stores now stock a wide array of healthier frozen foods with fewer calories, less saturated fat, sugar and sodium, and more fiber and whole grains.
- Frozen foods are easy to prepare: They help families save time cooking and cleaning in the kitchen so they can spend more time together at the table.
If you'd like to try freezing some of your favorite foods when they are fresh and in season or on sale in the store, you can visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation, https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze.html#gsc.tab=0 for help in freezing.