The best diets are ones with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. But in our hurried lives, we tend to stick fresh produce in those clunky refrigerator drawers where they are quickly forgotten and begin stinking up the entire appliance.
In recent years, food manufacturers have begun to offer some healthy, innovative frozen foods tailor-made for the busy working professional. The best place to purchase these foods is in your local health food grocery store. Of the larger chains, Trader Joe's is one of the best health food stores offering a wide variety of healthy and delicious frozen snacks and dinners, followed by Sprouts and Whole Foods. The smaller chains and independent health food stores likewise carry healthy frozen treats.
Let's take a look at 10 tasty treats you can keep in your freezer and eat at your leisure without fear of food spoiling.
1) Fruit Bars. A great way to get in a serving or two of fruit, these are a healthy alternative to ice cream bars. Flavors include berry, banana, orange, and more.
2) Soy Burgers and Chicken Patties. In years past, these food products were, for lack of a better word, pretty gross. But today, soy burgers and chicken patties have become so close to their respective meats in terms of taste and texture, it's really hard to tell the difference. The popular Boca soy burgers are tasty, but I prefer Gardenburger's Flame Grilled line of soy burgers and chicken patties.
3) Frozen Bananas on Sticks. A tried and true frozen treat, the texture of a frozen banana is surprisingly similar to ice cream. Purchase wooden sticks from your local craft store, then stick them into the bottom of the banana to form a banana pop. Freeze for several hours and enjoy. For added enjoyment, dip bananas in melted chocolate and place on wax paper in freezer.
4) Steam-Ready Veggies. In the frozen section of your grocery store, you'll find an ingenious product: veggies in a plastic bag that you can stick in your microwave and steam. These are very convenient; no chopping vegetables, quick to cook, and you don't need any special cookware.
5) Soy Hot Dogs. We all know that the hot dog, that American icon, is loaded with saturated fat, salt, and nitrates. While soy dogs aren't quite as close to the real thing as soy burgers are to ground beef, nonetheless they make a good alternative if you're looking for a quick lunch or snack. You can also add sliced soy dogs to baked beans or macaroni and cheese.
6) Asian Veggie Stir-Fry Mixes. I've tried several varieties of these pre-packaged frozen vegetables coated with a special Asian sauce, and I've been pleased each time. You simply cook them with a tiny bit of added water and wa-la: you've got an easy, inexpensive stir-fry straight from your freezer. Add cooked chicken or firm tofu chunks if you wish, and serve with rice.
7) Soy Ice Cream. Soy ice cream is made with soy products rather than dairy cream from cows. It is amazingly creamy and delicious, and a great substitute if your diet restricts you from eating dairy.
8) Organic Frozen Pizzas. Who doesn't like pizza, that delicious pie with sauce, cheese, and tasty toppings. Organic frozen pizzas are made in a healthier way with lower sodium and healthy fats including olive oil. My personal favorite is is Amy's brand.
9) Enchiladas. The aforementioned Amy's brand makes a tasty frozen enchilada entree. Also look for organic frozen enchiladas made with soy products.
10) Gelato. Otherwise known as Italian ice cream, gelato is made with milk rather than cream; thus it is far lower in fat than ice cream. Nonetheless, gelato is creamy and flavorful; a real treat for ice cream aficionados.
Add these 10 frozen treats to your freezer and enjoy the convenience of healthy eating without fear that your fresh foods will spoil.