Frozen Too

As the temperatures begin to fall, try bringing some of that coolness into your kitchen.  Fresh may be best, but don’t overlook the benefits of frozen. 
Consider enjoying any or all of the following:
 
 Frozen Berries – they are a nutritional powerhouse, are available all year round and can be found for a reasonable price.  Thicken a smoothie with frozen berries, flavor water, create your own berry yogurt or simply eat them straight from the bag for an icy cold sweet treat.
 
 Frozen Veggies – going green, or orange or red or yellow has never been so easy. Take a stroll through the frozen vegetable aisle of your grocery store and you will find spirals, blends, chopped, diced, riced and julienned varieties.  Fill half your plate or bowl with these cool offerings and your health and energy may soar.
 
 Soup/chili – forget the cans, the pouches and the boxes.  Heat and enjoy your next bowl of steamy, satisfying soup or chili in minutes.  Beware of pre-packaged brands (the sodium and additives can be extreme) and consider double batching your next pot of soup or chili and freeze the leftovers for quick, nutritious grab and go meals. 
 
 Ice cubes – As icicles begin to form, don’t forget about ice cubes, well ice cube trays actually.  Go old school and fill a tray with yogurt before it expires (for smoothies), chop herbs and freeze in water (great flavor enhancers for sauces or sautéing) or freeze extra coffee or tea to enjoy full strength iced tea or coffee.
 
 Cookies – hot out of the oven is ideal, but if for some reason you have extra cookies – freeze them and enjoy them at another time, you know for those times when you really need something sweet.
 
 
It’s time to consider how frozen foods can become an easy part of your meal prep/plan and in terms of always having fresh….let it go!