Top 10 Most Unhealthy Frozen Foods
Foods are perishable products, which means that they quickly deteriorate if they are not stored properly. We tend to put most of our food in the fridge, and for a very good reason: the cold air keeps the food fresh and slows down the activity of bacteria, which means that the foods will deteriorate at a slower pace. However, there are several foods that should never be frozen, and one of the most common mistakes people do is that after they unfreeze meat products, they re-freeze them back on. Here are the top 7 worst frozen foods that you should avoid:
1. Frozen Pizza
Pizza is by far one of the most delicious foods known to man: however, it is a known fact that it is anything but healthy. Although it may be boosting with flavor, you might want to think twice before consuming frozen pizza, for two strong reasons: first of all, this is a pre-cooked product and the chances are that it contains tens of additives, preservatives and other chemicals. Second of all, even if it does contain nutritious veggies, the cooking process will destroy part of their properties. If you really must, eat a fresh pizza rather than a frozen one!
2. Frozen Burrito
Who doesn’t love this delicious Mexican delight? Tasty as it may be, you need to avoid the frozen burrito at all costs: on average, it contains 500 calories and over 15 grams of fat, half of which are saturated. Leaving aside the nutritional value of the frozen burrito which makes it anything but a diet-food, burritos can get a watery taste when you unfreeze and cook them. Besides, the golden rule of frozen foods is as follows: the fewer ingredients, the better!
3. Frozen Cheeseburgers
Usually, frozen cheeseburgers are usually smaller than the regular cheeseburgers you are used to. Small as they may be, they come with great nutritional deficits, and even if you may be tempted to throw a frozen cheeseburger in the microwave when you come home tired from work, you might want to think twice. The average cheeseburger has around 10 grams of fat and it is packed with sodium, not to mention that it is very low in dietary fiber as well, which means that it won’t be long until you feel hungry again.
4. Frozen Macaroni And Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is certainly a very delicious Italian meal, as long as it is cooked fresh. If you prepare it on the spot, you can be sure it is natural and somewhat healthy. However, if you buy frozen macaroni and cheese, this usually contains artificial additives, a generous amount of sodium, trans-fats and a wealth of other ingredients that can wreak havoc on your health, if you consume them regularly.
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5. Frozen Chicken Nuggets/Fried Chicken
Macaroni and cheese is certainly a very delicious Italian meal, as long as it is cooked fresh. If you prepare it on the spot, you can be sure it is natural and somewhat healthy. However, if you buy frozen macaroni and cheese, this usually contains artificial additives, a generous amount of sodium, trans-fats and a wealth of other ingredients that can wreak havoc on your health, if you consume them regularly.
Frozen chicken nuggets are on the bad list as well: this is far from being your ideal meal, given the fact that the chicken has been deep fried and it contains a great deal of trans-fats. Add preservatives and salt to that and you will get a nutritional bomb ready to explode. Generally, frozen fried chicken contains two to three times more fat than the regular cheeseburger, and well over one gram of sodium (in addition to the flavor enhancers, preservatives and artificial fillers).
6. Frozen French Fries
If french fries are known to be anything but healthy, imagine how bad frozen french fries can be. In addition to the fact that fries contain high amounts of salt, carbohydrates, calories and fat that increase the risk of artery clogs, the frozen french fries are even worse because they are hold in plastic bags, and some chemicals found in plastic (such as acrylamide, for instance) can increase the risk for cancer.
7. Frozen Pies And Sweets
Supermarkets are full of frozen goodies that are ready within minutes, but these frozen pies are anything but healthy and you should avoid them: if you have a sweet tooth, go for the natural home-made pie. At least, this way you know all the ingredients and the amount of sugar you use.
8. Microwave Frozen Calzone with Pepperoni and three Cheese
Toss this on top of the list of worst foods. How good can a frozen meal cooked in the microwave taste? The calzone comes out dry, tasteless, and It’s full of calories!
9. Chicken Pot Pie
For example there are 1160 calories, 26 grams of saturated fat in the entire Stouffer’s White Meat Chicken Pot Pie. This frozen meal will make your body feel anything but comfortable.
10. Pizza Hamburger
Now, can you think of anything more fattening than Pizza Hamburger combo. Full of preservatives, MSG, hydrogenated fats and just badness. Also, processed meats are full of nitrates (a preservative that is also a carcinogen) and can lead to colon cancer.If you want to eat pizza or hamburgers, get a recipe with simple ingredients and make it yourself. You will feel so much better afterwards! Your body will thank you.
Myth Or Fact: Are Fresh Products More Nutritious Than Frozen Products?
As the winter approaches, fresh fruits and vegetable become scarce and this is why many people choose to freeze them and use them later on. However, we have all asked ourselves at least once: which one is more nutritious, the fresh or the frozen dishes? As research suggests, there is little to no difference in terms of nutrients between fresh and frozen dishes. The secret lies in the preparation process, as the cooking method can dramatically affect the natural properties of fruits. In essence, fresh and frozen products have relatively the same amount of healthy nutrients, it all comes down to how you cook them. At the same time, it is not impossible for fresh fruits to contain even less nutrients given the fact that when shipped to the fresh produce aisles of the largest supermarkets, they are usually picked before they are ripe. This way, they do not have enough time to develop a full spectrum of minerals and vitamins, therefore they will never have their natural nutritive value. This, coupled with prolonged exposure to heat and light can further degrade the nutrients and vitamins, especially thiamin.
The conclusion is that in-season fruits and vegetables should be consumed fresh, while off-season foods can be consumed frozen. This is the thumb rule if you want to benefit from the highest concentration of nutrients.