If you have vegetables in your freezer, you have less room for toaster waffles.

I prefer fresh, raw vegetables whenever possible, but I enthusiastically endorse picking them up frozen if that’s the easiest option for you. We’ve already established the benefits of buying meat in bulk and freezing it, but freezing vegetables might be even better for you.  From Cynthia Sass, R.D., whose clients have included the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays:

Frozen produce has been shown to be just as nutrient-rich, or even superior to fresh, a fact supported by two new independent studies. Scientists from Leatherhead Food Research and University of Chester, carried out 40 tests to measure nutrient levels in produce that had been sitting in a fridge for three days, compared to frozen equivalents. They found more beneficial nutrients overall in the frozen samples, in everything from broccoli to blueberries. In fact, in two out of three cases, frozen fruits and veggies packed higher levels of antioxidants, including polyphenols, anthocyanins, lutein, and beta-carotene. This conclusion supports previous research, which found that freezing produce does not destroy its nutrients. In one report, the vitamin C content in fresh broccoli plummet by more than 50% with a week, but dipped by just 10% over an entire year when frozen.

Yet another myth busted? Well, sort of. All veggies aren’t created equal in this regard. Some are best consumed sans frost. From greatist.com:

But the nutritional quality in fresh versus frozen varieties also depends on the type of veggie. Brassica veggies — like cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower — are typically better fresh than frozen because they retain more phytochemicals and antioxidants, which studies suggest may actually help prevent certain cancers.

When embarking on a lifestyle-changing journey, we mustn’t solely consider nutrition. Convenience plays a major role.

I wake up with my young men before school in the morning. As I’m slicing and chopping potatoes, I wonder how other moms and dads do it. I don’t have to rush off to work after breakfast. My boys walk to school (in 10 feet of fresh air and sunshine, never snow). My day begins around noon when my prep starts for Fox Sports Live. I have the luxury of taking my time. For a parent needing to move hurriedly, I suggest a bag of frozen blueberries and pineapple in a blender, some frozen organic hash browns quickly fried up and a hard boiled egg. It beats Chex dumped in a bowl any day of the week. More from Cynthia Sass:

One of my favorite things about keeping frozen options on hand is that they don’t require any washing, peeling, or chopping. And for many of my clients, that benefit is the sole reason veggies wind up on their plates. One study found that working women spend, on average, less than one hour a day preparing, serving, eating, and cleaning up after meals. That’s not under an hour for each meal – it’s less than one hour for all daily meals! Because frozen produce is prep-free, reaching for it can save you a ton of time, allowing you to make healthy dishes at home, rather than opting for takeout.

We now know that many frozen veggies can be the nutritional equivalent of their fresh brethren. We also know that they can help with efficiency. Now, show me the damn money. From Forbes:

The most interesting finding was that the way vegetables are packaged – frozen, canned or fresh (and in the case of beans, dried) – does not greatly affect the per serving cost.  Canned sliced carrots (boiled), for example, cost only 34 cents a serving, while carrots bought fresh and boiled cost 32 cents a serving.  Some veggies like brussels sprouts cost less for the frozen variety than the fresh (both boiled).

Hmmm, there is no monetary advantage to buying frozen? As a savvy shopper, I imagine there are some bigger spreads here and there. However, food is not the place to spend the least money possible.  Be exceptionally thrifty with the fuel you put in your car, not with your veggies. Clip coupons for amusement park trips, and buy the best quality produce you can afford. You pay for health now or you pay for health later.

Here’s how all this frozen vs. fresh vegetables shakes out for me. Nothing will replace the nutrition and pleasure derived from planting and growing your own produce in your yard or pot, then picking it and chomping. From there it’s a sliding scale. I can promise you that a bag of frozen broccoli will kick the shit out of a bag of Lays’ potato chips.

Go ahead and stop in the frozen foods section. If you get a little chilly, you can wrap yourself in a blanket of improved health.

Kap