pinterest Save

Think fresh meals are better than frozen? think again!

As anyone old enough to remember TV dinners can tell you, there is a reason why frozen meals earned a bad rap early on: processed, additive-laden, and free of flavor—unless you count the taste of the aluminum tray, that is.

However, today’s frozen meals are a far cry from the foil-encased atrocities of yesteryear, though this doesn’t mean they’ve escaped their stigma of being inferior to fresh meals.

But are they?

Let’s have a look!

Yes, Frozen is Better—Here’s Why

When it comes to organic, plant-based eating, fresher is better since shelf-life plays such an important role in the nutrition and quality of your food.

However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, freezing is one of humankind’s oldest methods of keeping food fresh. It is also perhaps the only methods of food preservation which doesn’t alter the chemical makeup of food, such as with pickling, culturing, smoking or cooking.

And frozen foods are:

  • Picked at the peak of ripeness—According to Mary Jane Brown, PhD, for fruits and vegetables to arrive fresh at stores thousands of miles from farms, they need to be picked early enough to ripen during processing, packing, shipping and time spent in stores and your refrigerator. This means harvesting long before nutritional content and flavors reach their peak, and results in less-nutritious, blander-tasting fruits and vegetables than those which mature naturally and is in addition to their being treated with chemicals to slow spoilage. However, frozen foods can be picked at the peak of ripeness and frozen immediately for optimum flavor and nutrition, and are either left untreated, or are treated with natural ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to retard spoilage.
  • Quick-frozen—In 1924, Clarence Birdseye noticed that fish he caught in Labrador, NF, Canada would freeze nearly instantly after being pulled from the water. This would preserve the fish for months after, and without altering the texture or flavor. From this he developed the quick-freezing method commonly used today which doesn’t allow crystals to form and rupture the cell membranes of foods, thus leaving them as delicious and firm as when fresh.
  • Less waste—The best thing about organic foods can also be the most frustrating, since a lack of preservatives or genetic modifications usually means short shelf life. This often results in more spoiled food being thrown away unless it is carefully managed—or better yet, frozen.
  • More savings—Since frozen foods can be stored for long periods, companies can produce larger batches to lower their costs and charge you less. This is in addition to less spoilage waste and less need for labor-intensive management of fresh products.


Frozen vs Fresh: How Prepared Meal Companies Stack up

Yes, frozen meals may once have had the flavor and nutritional content of tin foil, and there was even a time when freezing foods meant they became mushy and unappetizing once thawed.

However, between today’s quick-freezing methods and an increased awareness of the need for healthy, nutritious, great-tasting frozen meals, things have changed.

Even so, we still often consider fresh to be the best alternative since there is the perception that freezing foods somehow makes them inferior. However, when you consider that frozen fruits and vegetables are harvested at their ripest, are not chemically treated against spoilage, the long-term storage ability, lack of food spoilage and the economy of scale this gives producers, it becomes much clearer: frozen is better.

Plus, when you order from a frozen meal service, you have the freedom to order from nearly anywhere in the country without concern for shipping times.

For instance, Veestro can ship fresh frozen, healthy, plant-based meals prepared by our gourmet chef and shipped at little of no cost to any of the 48-contiguous states.

So, for better taste, nutritional content, storage ability and savings, choose frozen meals—especially now that aluminum is no longer a featured flavor!


Related Blog Posts

the power of choosing beans over beef

how to boost your immune system for the cold and flu season

is oat milk healthy?

what you eat can impact climate change

an easy approach to reducing your risk of breast cancer

foods that help your body produce collagen naturally

why does magnesium matter? 5 magnesium-rich foods

3 simple tips for losing weight starting today


your second brain - tips for a healthier gut

microwaves and nutrition: do microwaves kill our food?

eat these 5 foods to stay hydrated this summer


think fresh meals are better than frozen? think again!

what 1,500 calories looks like on a plant-based diet

your sugar detox guide

are you vitamin d deficient?

here’s what happens to your body on a juice cleanse

war on waste: are fresh veggies healthier than frozen?

got milk? the dairy industry’s mass deception

what happens to your body when you go vegan?

how easily can the pope go vegan?

supercharge your sex life

is it possible to prevent and reverse disease?

5 ways plants power us in 2019

detox your body

eating healthy doesn’t have to be scary - 5 simple tips

the most unusual facts about berries

can you get enough protein from plants?

5 foods you should never eat

spotlight on: activated charcoal

5 superfoods for women's health

ancient remedies we use today

five magnesium-rich foods for stress relief

why detox?

10 ways to sneak in more veggies

high fiber foods you can snack on

myth vs fact: 5 things you didn't know about vitamin c

plant-based aphrodisiacs that work

5 heart-healthy foods

8 underrated veggies & why you should be eating them

probiotics - your best friend around the holidays

5 winter superfoods for more energy

5 easy ways to detox after overindulging

holiday spotlight: pumpkin

the key benefits of juicing

should you take supplements?

veggie anatomy 101: carrots

is plant-based good for kids?

good carbs vs. bad carbs

food facts: tomatoes

frozen vs. fresh: know your veggies

10 seasonal superfoods

5 summer foods to keep you hydrated

how much water should you really drink?

plant foods that boost your energy

stone fruit: five favorites for summer

men's health month: five plant-based benefits for men

5 protein-packed veggies

10 foods that boost your brain

five concerns about plant-based calories

vitamin d: essential like the sun

is soy good or bad for men?

12 foods to keep your heart happy

the sweet truth about sugar: myths and facts

get grounded with this winter superfood

5 winter squashes you need for better health right now

halloween inspired veggies to help you live longer

fat vs. sugar: the battle rages on

the soybean saga: myths and facts

5 reasons to fall in love with kale all over again

five reasons to get your calcium from plants

top reasons to have an apple a day

meeting your nutritional needs with veestro

just how important is breakfast?

food facts: watermelon

plant based protein to keep you satisfied

the truth behind antioxidants and food

do you get enough energy from your food?

is it a flower or a vegetable: discover the artichoke

6 foods that help reduce inflammation

grains to protect your immune system this winter

linking breast cancer and diet




are you at risk for heart disease?

can eating more veggies save your eyesight?

don't have breakfast without one of these three!