By Reeva Ripley, Frozen and Bulk Buyer, Co-op Owner
We all want to have delicious and healthy dinners throughout our work week, but by the end of the day something quick and easy sounds much more appealing. Make those healthy recipes a little quicker and easier by letting the frozen aisle do the prep work for you! Frozen fruits and vegetable come pre-cleaned and cut so all you have to do is defrost (even that’s optional) and toss them in while cooking your favorite dishes. Choosing frozen produce helps to cut down on waste because the foods are harvested, cleaned, cut (some produce is blanched), and then frozen, usually all within a 24h hour period Then the produce is nestled into its frozen bag waiting to be turned into tasty meals. This reduces the number of food scraps in your kitchen and the possibility of produce spoiling in your crisper drawer. This quick processing also means that more nutrients are maintained in the food because it pauses the ripening process. So when you’re planning your meals for the week, turn to the pre-cut frozen produce to save time, and reduce waste!
Here are a few easy meal ideas:
- Combine a bag of Cascadian Farm Powered by Plants mix with your favorite protein (chopped chicken or seitan both work well for this) in a large skillet. Sprinkle on some seasonings and you’ll have dinner for four in less than 30 minutes!
- Dump a bag of frozen broccoli florets in with your pasta as it boils. Drain the whole thing together and pour on a jar of your favorite pasta sauce. That’s dinner handled in the time it takes to cook your noodles!
- Mix a jar of your favorite Maya Kaimal Simmer sauce with a bag of mixed veggies and heat until the veggies are cooked through. Combine with a package of Tasty Bite 90 second organic rice and you’ve got dinner! (For more protein add a can of chickpeas while heating the veggies.)
- Take one of those handy one-box pasta or rice meals and add some frozen greens while it cooks. You’ve added veggies and increased your servings at the same time!
- For a low carb option try cooking some frozen riced cauliflower and a can of tuna in a frying pan. Add a splash of lemon or lime juice, some garlic and ginger, and maybe even a little curry powder. In less than 15 minutes you’ll have a healthy and flavorful meal at your fingertips!