Foods - fresh vs. frozen or canned
Frozen foods vs. fresh or canned; Fresh foods vs. frozen or canned; Frozen vegetables versus fresh
Information
Vegetables are an important part of a well-balanced diet. Many people wonder if frozen and canned vegetables are as healthy for you as fresh vegetables.
Overall, vegetables fresh from the farm or just picked are healthier than frozen or canned ones. But frozen and canned vegetables can still be a good choice. They need to be canned or frozen right after being harvested, when they still have all of their healthy nutrients.
Also, keep in mind how much salt is added to canned vegetables. Try to buy those without added salt and don't overcook any vegetable, whether fresh, frozen, or canned. Instead of boiling them in water for longer periods of time, they should be lightly steamed.
References
Noel MB, Thompson M, Wadland WC, Holtrop JS. Nutrition and family medicine. In: Rakel RE, ed. Textbook of Family Medicine . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 37.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th ed. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010.
-
Frozen foods vs. fresh - illustration
Generally, vegetables that are fresh from the farm or just picked are more nutritious than their frozen or canned counterparts, however frozen vegetables are an acceptable nutritional alternative.
Frozen foods vs. fresh
illustration
-
Heart-healthy diet
(In-Depth)
-
Diabetes diet
(In-Depth)
-
Heart failure
(Alt. Medicine)
-
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)
(Alt. Medicine)
-
Heart failure
(In-Depth)
-
High blood pressure
(In-Depth)
Review Date: 8/14/2015
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.