Elevate Frozen Produce
March 2, 2026
Incorporating fruits and vegetables into meals and snacks is a great way to add fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals into your diet. Fruits and vegetables also add some bulk to meals to help you feel more satiated and stay fuller for longer. Fresh produce is great, until it runs out or goes bad before you get a chance to eat it. Frozen fruits and vegetables can be a satisfactory substitute when the fresh options are not available. Oftentimes frozen produce is frozen soon after it is harvested in order to maintain freshness, so the nutrient density is usually very similar to the fresh versions. Sometimes people are hesitant to purchase frozen fruits and vegetables because the texture, mouthfeel and, sometimes, taste can be different than what they are used to.
Here are some ideas for using frozen produce in different ways:
- Add frozen mango directly into smoothies
- Frozen berries can be used in muffins, pancakes, or overnight oats
- Make an easy fried rice with a bag of frozen peas and carrots
- Roast or heat up frozen vegetables in a pan instead of in the microwave if you prefer your veggies to have a more crispy texture.
How to do it with frozen broccoli:
- Add some olive oil to a pan over medium-high heat
- Add frozen broccoli from the freezer directly into the pan
- Once it is thawed out a bit, about 3-5 minutes, add seasonings. I like to use black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, but you can switch it up with whatever seasonings you like.
- Heat for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the broccoli is fully heated and has the texture you are looking for.
- Add to your desired dish. One idea is an Asian chicken bowl with brown rice, green onions, grilled chicken, and a splash of soy sauce.
Fresh produce can also be frozen if you feel that you will not use it before it spoils. For example, freezing berries or bananas to extend their freshness.
Here is a smoothie recipe using frozen bananas:
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1/2c Greek yogurt
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- ½ banana, frozen. Peel and cut bananas in half before freezing for easier portioning.
- 1c spinach
- 1Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2c preferred milk
Directions
- Add ingredients to a blender, add ice, and blend it up!
- Can be enjoyed immediately or can be frozen into an ice cube tray and blended for another day.
Add a bag of frozen berries or broccoli to your next grocery trip and see how you can use it to add nutrients to your favorite meals. The next time you come back from a trip and do not have time to go grocery shopping, you will be glad to have some produce on hand to hold you over.
