FRESH VEGETABLES VS FROZEN VEGETABLES- Whats the healthier option?
Both fresh and frozen vegetables are very good for you, but often people think that fresh is the healthier option...
Fresh vegetables are often picked/ harvested just before they are ripe. Once harvested, exposed to oxygen, warm or dry weather, veggies may begin to lose some of their nutrients and antioxidants on the way from the farm to your local supermarket.
Frozen vegetables are harvested at their peak ripeness and snap frozen. This helps them retain its nutrients for an extended amount of time.
Frozen vegetables contain significantly more vitamin C after 12 months compared to fresh vegetables after 7 days in the fridge.
Frozen vegetables are often slightly cheaper and are pre cut/prepared and therefore often more convenient. They can also be stored for longer periods of time and allow us to eat the vegetables we enjoy that aren’t currently in season.
Fresh vegetables (in my opinion) have a better taste, and when eating seasonally and locally they also retain more nutrients as well.
So what’s better?
- THEY ARE BOTH NUTRITIOUS
- Frozen may have some more nutrients retained
- Seasonal and local veg may also retain more nutrients
- Cooking wise it’s best to microwave, lightly steam veg or stir fry them as this will retain more nutrients (the more water and the more squishy the vegetables, the less nutrients)
According to the latest national health survey: first results, In 2017-18 only 1 in 13 (7.5%) Australians aged 18 and over met the guidelines for the daily recommended serves of vegetables (5 serves a day).
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Eat your veggies whether they are fresh, frozen, canned or even dried, try to include them in your diet (5 serves a day).
Use whichever is more convenient for you.
They are both nutritious options and you shouldn’t shy away from frozen vegetables out of concerns of nutrients.
Ruby Williams
Dietitian
References
https://foodinsight.org/celebrate-national-frozen-food-month/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160314190830/http://howfreshstaysfresh.com/#nutritious