One of the best things you can do for yourself is to keep a somewhat well stocked freezer. The time and money saved can be massive. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
Frozen food sometimes gets a bad rap. When honestly, there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, I really encourage eating it.
For starters, frozen produce is often just as nutritious as fresh. It’s picked and packaged at its peak, so it retains its flavor and nutrients. Plus, frozen fruit and veggies are usually cheaper and last longer than their fresh counterparts too.
Look at it this way: if you were to buy blueberries when they’re out of season in the winter, not only would the price tag be pretty high, but also, they probably wouldn’t taste as amazing as they do in the summer, since they’re coming from farther away where they are in season.
On the flip side, frozen blueberries are picked and packaged right in season and then frozen to help maintain their quality. Plus, they’re probably much cheaper than those out of season, fresh blueberries.
Not only is frozen produce amazing, but frozen meals can be so awesome too. They’re super convenient and just help make life easier. I know once upon a time we were all worried about preservatives and sodium in frozen meals. But, preservatives are usually pretty limited to the basics and are used to do just that – preserve the shelf life of food (read more about specific preservatives).
As far as the sodium in frozen meals, yes, they often have more salt than fresh food. This is because salt also helps to preserve the food. But, in the scheme of an overall lower sodium diet with a mix of both frozen and fresh food, the sodium content in a frozen meal here or there is truly nothing to worry about.
Lastly, frozen foods are just convenient! You don’t have to chop your broccoli when you’ve got a bag of frozen broccoli. Or, instead of cooking rice for 45 minutes, simply heat up a bag of frozen rice. I’m telling you – the time and money you’ll save with just a few frozen items stocked in your freezer is huge!
And, not just any snack either! There are certain nutrients to look for to make sure your snack truly gives you the energy you need.
Here are 10 staples I recommend keeping on hand:
1. Frozen broccoli
When it comes to vegetables, frozen broccoli is a must. Like I mentioned, frozen produce is just as nutritious as fresh. The texture of frozen broccoli can for sure be a little weird so, instead of microwaving it, try sautéing or roasting with oil, garlic and herbs. Use frozen, cooked broccoli as a side dish or part of a stir fry. And, if you don’t love broccoli, try frozen cauliflower or even Brussels sprouts.
2. Frozen berries
I can’t say enough good things about frozen berries. I already told you how amazing they are when berries are out of season (but also when they’re in season, tbh). Add them to smoothies – frozen fruit in smoothies adds sweetness and helps make texture thicker. You can also mix them into warm oatmeal or warm them up and add them to peanut butter toast.
3. Toaster waffles
If you watch my Instagram stories, you probably know that I’m a big fan of toaster waffles. Breakfast doesn’t get easier than this! I love whole grain varieties because they offer a little more protein and fiber to help with fullness. Add some nut butter, fruit (ahem, frozen berries!) and maple syrup on top, and you’ve got a delicious breakfast in no time. My personal faves are Van’s and Kashi.
4. Frozen rice
Regular rice is great. I usually always have this in my pantry too. But, when I want rice fast, you can’t beat frozen rice. Just microwave it and it’s good to go. Add to stir fries, fried rice dishes or just as a side dish. I also love frozen quinoa for this same purpose too.
5. Frozen peas
Speaking of fried rice, frozen peas are an item you’ll always want to have on hand. You can even whip up a fried rice almost totally from your freezer with frozen brown rice, frozen peas and frozen broccoli or carrots. Just add some olive oil, soy sauce and an egg or two, and this meal is good to go.
6. Leftover baked goods
I don’t know about you, but when I bake or buy baked goods, it’s usually in bulk. Sometimes I have guests over or eat them all myself in a few days. Sometimes I don’t. And when I don’t, the best thing to do with leftover baked goods is to freeze them. You can extend the shelf life of cookies and cakes this way by up to 3 months! Plus, it means you always have cookies or cake ready to go at home when the craving hits. Worried about keeping foods like this in the house? Read this blog post.
7. Veggie burgers
Veggie burgers are a serious staple for easy meals and one of the best ways to add plant-based protein to any meal. You can throw them on top of a salad, pair them with roasted veggies, or have one or two on a bun like a regular burger. Some of my favorite filling and delicious veggie burger options are Dr. Praeger’s and Trader Joe’s brand.
8. Frozen bananas
Never throw away your overripe bananas. I repeat, never throw them away! Overly ripe bananas (IMO) don’t taste great fresh, but are beyond versatile when frozen. Throw them into any smoothie – they’ll help to make it sweet and thick. Or, keep them on hand for banana bread (I’m biased, but love this recipe) or these Banana Chocolate Chip Oaties. Just thaw them when you’re ready to use ‘em.
9. Walnuts
Fun fact: if you have a lot of walnuts that you want to stay fresh for a while, store them in the freezer. Because walnuts are so rich in fatty acids, this is the best place to store them (read more about that here). You can toast walnuts and use them on just about anything – on top of yogurt or roasted veggies, in a salad or in muffins. Try these Banana Walnut Muffins or this Roasted Butternut Squash with Maple Glazed Walnuts to start.
10. Frozen pizza and meals
The above items are great to add to or help make any meals, but when you realllyyy want easy, nothing beats a frozen meal. I love keeping frozen pizzas in the freezer to just heat and eat when in a pinch. Trader Joe’s also makes delicious frozen meals. I’m often asked about easy meals for postpartum and truly, TJ’s frozen meals were what I stocked up on. Here’s a list of my favorites and if you want to add a little more bulk to any of these, try adding any of the other options above, like frozen broccoli or a veggie burger.
Remember, anything that helps save time or make things feel a little easier when it comes to food is always a great option. And these foods will for sure help do just that.
