Too busy to cook? Eat healthy from your freezer

Kait Fortunato
WTOP Wellness Contributor

WASHINGTON — For busy days or weekends out of town, meal planning is often not an option. When this is the case, I like to store plenty of healthy foods in my freezer for easy meals I can make throughout the week.

Here are some of my favorite frozen food items:

Frozen Fruit: This is perfect for adding to smoothies or yogurt for breakfast.

Frozen Vegetables: Perfect for stir fries or roasting in the over to pair with an easy dinner.

Trader Joe’s Frozen Turkey Meatballs Free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, these are tasty and easy to heat up for a quick meal. I love them paired with whole-wheat pasta or spaghetti squash with a can of no-salt-added diced tomatoes.

Gorton’s Salmon Fish Fillets: Again, a great way to get seafood that is individually portioned and free of preservatives. These fillets are gluten-free and low in sodium, so they are great for a healthy backup meal.

Dr. Praegars Vegetable Burgers: This is my favorite brand of veggie burgers, both for taste and for health. The ingredient list is short and recognizable, and I love seeing the chunks of vegetables throughout the burger.

Amy’s Frozen Meals: If you truly need a frozen meal, this is the brand to choose! They use high-quality, organic ingredients and everything is made from scratch. There are no additives, preservatives or GMOs!

Organic Brown Rice: Frozen brown rice is an excellent food item to keep in your freezer for a healthy starch to add to meals!

Of course I always prefer real, whole foods whenever possible, but I do think there is a place for healthy convenience options in our busy lives.

Kait Fortunato is a registered dietitian at Rebecca Bitzer & Associates and serves on the board for the DC Metro Area Dietetic Association. Kait focuses on individualizing her recommendations to have each client see results and live a healthier, more productive life, and she works to help people enjoy food and eat the foods they love. Kait lives in the D.C. area and loves trying new restaurants and activities around the city. Visit Kait’s blog, Rebel Dietitian, and tweet her @Rebel_Dietitian for recipes, nutrition tips and activities in the Washington area.

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