NUTRITION March Celebrates Both Nutrition And Frozen Food @ (NAPSA)—March claims two titles that may seem unrelated but actually go hand in hand. The first is National Nutrition Month, which encourages a balanced plate of nutrient-rich foods at every meal. March is also National Frozen Foods Month, which can be celebrated in a health-conscious way. MyPlate recommends that fruits and vegetables comprise half of each meal, but statistics indicate that a majority of American diets do not include enough produce. “For on-the-go people, eating enough produce might seem really difficult. I suggest dried, canned and frozen produce options—they meet MyPlate guidelines and can really simplify healthy eating,” said Giant Eagle Registered Dietitian Samantha Montgomery as she debunked some popular myths: 1. Frozen foods are loaded with sodium. Manyfrozen fruits and vegetables do not contain an excess of sodium. Check the ingredient list as you shop; it should only contain that vegetable, no added salt, fat or sugar. 2. Frozen produce is less nutritious than fresh. Produce is flash frozen at the peak of freshness, locking in all key nutrients and making frozen fruits and vegetables just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. 3. Frozen foods increase preparation time. Vegetables like onions and garlic are vital to manyrecipes but are cumbersome to prepare. Frozen varieties of such ingredients are prewashed and precut, and can be cooked using the microwave or stove in less than 10 minutes. As a retailer focused on wellness and customer convenience, Giant Eagle provides tools, ranging from “Dietitian Pick”call-outs in the company’s weekly circular to in-store nutrition classes, to aid customers interested in making “better-for-you” choices. To take advantage of these services, call 1-877-289-2588 and ask to speak to a registered dietitian Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT.
