Get real with yourself and increase your chances to eat healthy every day
The other day a client told me he usually goes out to eat rather than cooking at home. The main reason: every time he loads up on fresh vegetables at the grocery store the majority of them go bad before he cooks them. Buying fresh vegetables has been a waste of his time and a waste of his money. Discouraged, he avoids buying vegetables at all now.
When Idealism Collides with Reality
There are a whole slew of artificial boundaries to healthy eating manufactured by our Instagram, Pintrest, celebrity chef, Facebook photos of perfectly plated meals crazed society. The pressure is on to put photo-ready, Michelin 3-Star quality meals of the freshest farmers market produce, free range eggs, and locally grown grass fed meats on your table. Every food purchase seems to come bundled with political and moral implications. Is it any wonder so many needlessly feel inadequate and give up on making their meals at home?
Even if I had the time, I am not interested in making the effort to drive to my local farmers market, or even my grocery store, every other day to get fresh vegetables to prepare for dinner. Frozen foods, often more nutritious than fresh options, help me maintain a healthy diet. Every. Single. Day.
My freezer is stocked with an assortment of vegetables, salmon, barramundi (my new favorite fish), and homemade stews, soups, and pasta sauces I made in big batches - all waiting to help me out when I need a quick, easy, and nutritious supper.
There Are Many Advantages to Using Frozen Foods
Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at the peak of ripeness, when they are most nutritious, and frozen within a few hours. They often have a higher nutritional value than fresh options.
Fish is frozen within hours of being caught or harvested and is often fresher than the "fresh" fish in the grocer's display case.
Spoilage is reduced. You use what you need and put the rest back in the freezer.
Frozen foods are consistently priced.
Frozen foods are always in season.
Frozen foods are convenient.
Frozen foods have a long shelf-life.
You may also want to read this post, which also discusses the benefits of frozen fruits and vegetables:
Increase your opportunities to eat nutritious meals at home. Let go of idealistic, unrealistic expectations of what a home cooked meal "should" be and start eating healthy meals at home. Incorporating frozen foods into your meals will help you reach your health goals, and make your life a lot easier.
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