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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

With inflation skyrocketing nowadays, more and more consumers are budgeting the amounts of money they spend on the goods they need in their daily lives. One of these areas that sees some budgeting is the grocery store. Unfortunately, food prices are rising, so it can be tempting to forgo buying certain nutritious items due to the price. But don’t let these prices keep you from keeping your fridge stocked with healthy foods. Instead, opt for frozen versions of these items!

According to a study done on the nutrition profile of frozen foods, many frozen fruits and vegetables have just the same amount of nutritional value as their fresh counterparts. In fact, some frozen fruits and vegetables have a greater amount of vitamins A and C, as well as folates. This is because they are frozen so fast after harvest, that they have not had time to lose as much of these nutrients during processing as the fresh varieties do.

So, you may be wondering what some good frozen food options are. Registered dietician and nutritionist Mary Ellen Phipps says that the following 6 foods are ones that she always buys frozen rather than fresh, due to ease of preparation, nutritional content, and cheaper price.

• Berries
• Fish
• Brown rice
• Spinach
• Cut carrots
• Peas

Don’t let the higher prices at the grocery store keep you from buying good and nutritious food for your family. Instead, look for cheaper alternatives like frozen foods, that are just as nutritious as the fresh versions.

For more nutrition articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!