March is Frozen Food Month, an important reminder that frozen foods are a convenient and delicious way to eat healthily within a family’s food budget, according to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI). AFFI highlights the benefits of frozen food with its 2022 Frozen Advantage Toolkit.
“The frozen category feeds 99.4% of American households and fuels the American economy by providing 670,000 jobs,” said Alison Bodor, president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute. “Whether its wild blueberries farmed for generations in Maine, vegetables grown with pride in the Pacific Northwest or the authentic taste of Asian flavors made in the Midwest, AFFI is proud to represent the many ways frozen feeds the American economy. During March’s Frozen Food Month, and throughout the year, frozen foods help American families eat healthily, especially during this period of food inflation and supply chain disruption.”
Among the many advantages, frozen foods are nutritious. Fruits and vegetables are harvested and quickly flash-frozen within hours to lock in key nutrients, vitamins and minerals like Riboflavin, Vitamins C and E, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Fiber, Phenolics. Frozen foods also reduce consumer food waste, as they don’t spoil in the freezer so consumers can eat all that they buy; unused portions can be returned to the freezer to be used for another meal. This reduces food waste and saves families money. The frozen food aisle is also packed with affordable healthier choices: Grocery stores now stock a wide array of healthier frozen foods with fewer calories, less saturated fat, sugar and sodium, and more fiber and whole grains.