As I walked around the grocery store this past weekend while completing my weekly shop, it was impossible not to notice the increase in prices. When groceries become more expensive, it’s important we reevaluate our priorities when it comes to our food choices. It’s easy to convince ourselves we need to cut back on fresh produce, such as vegetables, in times like this because we don’t want to purchase food that goes to waste. Let’s dive into some common myths around the nutritional value of vegetables packaged in different ways. 

I often get asked if it’s worth it to purchase vegetables that are not fresh and organic. The short answer is yes! Fresh, organic vegetables are a great option if it’s within your priorities and your budget to spend your money here. Organic vegetables are not necessarily more nutritious than conventionally grown vegetables, however, they are more likely to contain lower amounts of pesticides. 

I personally don’t opt for organic vegetables because it isn’t high enough on my priority list at the moment to justify the price difference, however, that decision is for each person to make individually depending on the needs and goals of their family. 

If you’re concerned about shelf life, it may be helpful to consider purchasing frozen or canned vegetables. Vegetables that are both frozen and canned contain almost the same amount of nutrients as fresh vegetables. These two processes for storage preserve many of the vitamins and nutrients in the vegetables making canned and frozen vegetables a great option if you’re trying to be more conscious of your budget and give yourself some help when it comes to actually eating the foods you purchase before they go to waste. 

When selecting canned vegetables, you’ll want to check the labels to see what else is in the can. Most of the time you’ll see an ingredients list that includes the vegetable, water, and salt. This is what you want to look for. It’s easy to get tricked and purchase packaged foods that contain extra sugar or juice without knowing it. As long as you check the nutritional label for the ingredients, canned vegetables can be a very healthy and budget-friendly option for your family. 

If you’re worried about contamination when it comes to your produce, consider purchasing frozen or canned options or a soap designed to wash your produce off when you get home. Washing your veggies is actually a very simple process that doesn’t take much time at all. A quick soak, rinse, and dry and you’re ready to store them for the week. 

My husband and I eat mostly a combination of fresh, conventionally grown vegetables and frozen vegetables. We choose these options because they fit best into our cooking style, schedule, budget, and food values. We attempt to eat many servings of whole foods per day and vegetable consumption is an important part of that. 

When we purchase all fresh vegetables, we find some of them go bad before we get the chance to eat them. I don’t feel any shame for choosing frozen vegetables because this option works well in my household. It’s up to you to make the best choices for you and your family and if that includes canned or frozen vegetables, that’s way better than no vegetables. It’s never an all-or-nothing situation. 

Xoxo

Coach Maggi