Nutrition Tips During Covid-19
May 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
During a pandemic, nutrition may not seem to be at the forefront of people’s concern. However, this is a great time to learn, plan and practice a nutritious diet. For many people, trips to the grocery store are limited to a bi-/ weekly basis right now. This can make the challenge of food storage, specifically fresh fruits and vegetables, a concern for many. Instead of fresh produce, consider nutrition-packed frozen and canned fruits and vegetables.
Canned fruits and vegetables are a great source of shelf-stable nutrition for you and your family. Canned fruits and vegetables are picked at peak freshness, ensuring best flavor and nutrient quality. The process of canning has little effect on the vitamin, mineral or macronutrient content of fruits and vegetables. In fact, some fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, can see an increase in the amount of antioxidants, when canned!
When picking canned foods from the store to get the best bang for your buck, there are a few points to be aware of: When picking canned fruit, pick varieties canned in water, 100% juice or its own juices. Avoid heavy or light syrups, as these are sources of added sugars. You should also be aware that canned foods have higher sodium content than their fresh or frozen counterparts. If you’re watching your sodium intake, look for no-salt added or low-sodium. Cans with dents, bulges, cracks, or leaks should also be avoided, due to contamination and possible harmful bacteria.
Similar to canned fruits and vegetables, frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and then frozen within hours, locking in nutrients and flavor. The process of freezing let’s foods retain all of their vitamins, minerals and macronutrients. In some cases, frozen foods have more vitamins and minerals compared to fresh, because fresh foods lose vitamins and minerals over time, whereas freezing preserves nutrients. When choosing frozen fruits and vegetables, look for frozen fruits, vegetables and other foods in their raw form, without added sauces, sugars or fats. You can check out the nutrition facts to determine this information. Purchasing frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are easy to store and keep for long periods of time in between trips to the store.
