Are frozen vegetables healthy? – Forbes Health

Roughly one-third of the food intended for human consumption in the U.S. goes to waste, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When we throw this food away, all the energy used to produce, process, transport, prepare and store it also goes to waste. In addition, such food waste and waste lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions, and when food ends up in landfills, it generates methane, another problematic greenhouse gas.

Of course, frozen vegetables also require energy to transport and store, but if the food lasts longer and is ultimately consumed rather than thrown away, the environmental cost of producing it can be lower than that of delivering fresh produce around the world that end up rotting in a landfill.

Packaging is an issue for both fresh and frozen vegetables. The freezer section is full of plastic bags and most people use the disposable bags provided by grocery stores in the fresh produce section. These bags often cannot be easily recycled at home, but many retail and grocery stores provide bag drops to recover and recycle used plastic bags. If you rinse out your produce bags when you’re done with them, you can deposit them in these containers as well.

If you’re concerned about the impact of food waste on the environment, bring reusable produce bags from home when you shop for fresh produce, or skip the bags altogether. For every type of food (fresh or frozen) that goes bad, composting turns food scraps into nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardens and potted plants. Not everyone has the space or ability to compost at home, but some cities and private companies offer pickup services, and backyard kits and countertop units are available.

(Note: Product data and pricing are accurate as of date of publication and subject to change.)