Fresh vs Frozen Food: Which is Best for Your Kids?

Is frozen food really as healthy as fresh? In this episode, pediatric dietitian Jill Castle sits down with Jennie Norka, MPH, Senior Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at the American Frozen Food Institute, to separate fact from fear when it comes to your freezer aisle. Together they take apart five myths parents hear all the time: that frozen produce loses its nutrition, that frozen meals are packed with preservatives, that a frozen dinner can't be a healthy dinner that using frozen food means you're not really cooking for your family. Jennie brings the research and the food science; Jill brings the real-life parenting lens from raising four kids of her own. You'll also learn a food safety detail that matters if you're feeding a baby or toddler: why frozen vegetables need to be cooked, not served straight from the bag, unlike frozen fruit. //Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and why we're talking about frozen food 00:58 Meet Jennie Norka and the American Frozen Food Institute 03:40 What actually counts as "frozen food" 05:46 Myth 1: Frozen isn't as nutritious as fresh 08:37 How flash freezing actually works 11:10 Myth 2: Frozen food is full of preservatives 14:47 Myth 3: Frozen meals are always unhealthy 15:09 How to read a nutrition label with confidence 17:13 Frozen entrees vs. homemade: what the data shows 19:53 Myth 4: Using frozen food is lazy parenting 23:31 Building a balanced meal with frozen food 24:16 Food safety: cooking frozen vegetables properly 25:27 What parents of babies and toddlers need to know 26:44 Easy ways to use frozen fruit 30:02 Getting the most from frozen proteins 31:41 Frozen food, your grocery budget, and food waste 35:18 Final advice for parents standing in the frozen aisle 42:48 Where to find more resources //Links: 🔗 American Frozen Food Institute: frozenadvantage.org 🔗 Join the Munch newsletter and explore more resources at thenourishedchild.com 🔗 Subscribe for new episodes and follow The Nourished Child on Apple Podcasts 🔗 Private Consultation with Jill: https://jillcastle.com/pediatric-nutr... 🔗 Parenting Group Program: https://thenourishedchild.com/kids-th... 🔗 DIY Course, The Nourished Child Blueprint: https://thenourishedchild.com/nourish...