Im a dietitian these 6 foods are better frozen than fresh

Frozen food has historically gotten a bad rap, ranking as a distant second compared to fresh options.But UK nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert tells The Daily Mail this week that our frozen prejudice might cost us valuable nutrients, “There is a huge gap between consumer perceptions and the reality of frozen food’s quality.” “I’ve been advocating for the benefits of frozen food for years, yet I don’t believe the idea that frozen produce can be more nutritious than fresh is mainstream knowledge yet and we need to do more to get this message across,” maintains Lambert, author of “The Science of Nutrition.”She makes the case for the nutritional quality of frozen meat, fish, broccoli, edamame, spinach and sweetcorn.

Lambert reports that fresh meat loses nutrients over time and can contain additives and preservatives intended to keep it edible longer.You can avoid nutrient and flavor loss by choosing beef and chicken from the frozen aisle.“Freezing or buying frozen meat helps retain both nutrients and flavor,” Lambert explained.Similarly, freezing fish preserves heart-healthy fatty acids, like omega-3s. Lambert explains, “A recent study found that most omega-3 in fish remains nutritionally available even after three months of freezing.”Lambert says that nutrient-wise, broccoli gets a super boost from a deep freeze: “Putting this in the freezer shortly after harvesting helps lock in essential vitamins and antioxidants, preserving them for longer.”Compared to fresh, frozen broccoli often contains more riboflavin (vitamin B2), which is crucial for digestive health and brain function.While frozen peas have the same nutritional value as frozen, edamame is best bought cold.“Edamame has more benefits bought frozen,” Lambert tells the Daily Mail.

She notes that choosing frozen edamame over peas gives consumers the added benefit of soy, which could be a boon to body and mind.Recent research found that isoflavones in soybeans and soy products can ...