This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Frozen Foods Institute and the Frozen Food Roundtable for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Busy parents and busy working folks are always looking for ways to save money, save time and still eat well. It's an age-old conundrum: how do we enjoy a nice meal without spending a lot of time and money making it? How can we eat a great lunch without losing valuable working time? How do we feed the kids a satisfying meal on a busy weeknight when we have back to back sports meets, dance classes, piles of homework...and a headache to boot? Well, that's where mama's best friend comes into play: frozen food.
We heavily rely on frozen foods because they are ready when we are! That is one of the many benefits of frozen foods, having pre-made frozen meals on hand allow busy families like ours to spend less time in the kitchen and more time together enjoying our meals. It doesn't even have to be a complete frozen meal - you can customize your favorite dishes with frozen foods to save time making your favorite recipes too!
For instance, you can toss your favorite Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables in with chicken and rice or sprinkle some breadcrumbs and bacon pieces on Stouffer's Mac & Cheese after cooking - it's all about creating a dish that your family will love without a maximum amount of work.
The thing about frozen food that many aren't aware of is that it is REAL food - many brands concentrate on creating delicious meals that are full of fresh, quality ingredients, like Green Giant (boxed ad bagged products) - they are cooked and then frozen to lock in the nutrients and flavor. I don't think there is really a fresh vs frozen benefit - frozen food is just a frozen fresh food. Once it's cooked or thawed - it's the same thing, just much more convenient. Frozen foods are perfect for people who put a lot of effort and care into what they eat because every single ingredient is listed right on the packaging - there are no surprises and no guesswork involved!
I love that I can find easy meal options to stock the freezer and not have to worry about their calories! With options like Smart Ones meals and Healthy Choice frozen Greek yogurt, I can enjoy delicious, satisfying meals and stay on track with eating healthy. I seriously need to lose the summer vacation weight...Frozen foods makes counting calories really easy, especially with single serving meal options from Smart Ones, Kellogg's and ConAgra Foods. The serving sizes are clear and every package has complete nutritional information that you can enter into any food diary or diet tracker.
Frozen is how fresh stays fresh; by locking in the flavor and nutrients of the foods we love, brands like ConAgra, Schwan's, Heinz, and Pinnacle hit nature’s pause button so when you heat up that meal, it tastes just as if it had been freshly prepared for you that same day.
One of the things I love most about frozen food meal options like this Smart Ones Three Cheese Ziti Marinara is that it's EASY! When I am home, my blogging schedule is pretty hectic, because I try to only work while Angeline is in school. That means 7 am to 2 pm - I always eat lunch at my desk, and if I can throw a yummy meal like this in the microwave and have it ready within minutes, with no prep or dishes to wash afterwards (except for a fork), it makes my life so much easier. I am left satisfied and I am not left reaching for junk food later in the day because I was too busy to eat lunch!
I used to bring meals like this with me to the office when I worked a regular office job too. You can save so much money by bringing lunches from home, but who has time to put together lunchboxes for yourself when you're done making lunches for the kids? You can void the fast food drive through by stocking up on a few different varieties of frozen meals and enjoy a delicious hot lunch at work without ever leaving the building. Instead of spending time going through the drive through, take a short walk or relax for the rest of your lunch hour!
Crystal Green says
With the advancements of frozen foods, I have to say I've found many meals that are actually better already made than going out to eat. I do love that it's quick and easy to fix a meal or two. My kids have also enjoyed the speed by which they can get fed when I'm dealing with deadlines.
Theresa @ Faith and Family Reviews says
Frozen foods are a moms best friend! We don't use too many frozen meals (we usually always have some in the freezer though, just in case), but we use a lot and I mean a lot of frozen veggies.
Tammy Litke (@threedifferent) says
I rely a lot on frozen food because it's so handy. If I buy fresh I can waste a lot of money if we don't eat it and it goes bad.
Kathleen says
We used to use a lot of frozen meal items when I worked outside the home. Now, we eat a lot of crockpot meals that I freeze ahead of time, and they still taste fresh.
Scott says
I can't say that I've ever thought about freezing mac-n-cheese (or any pasta for that matter). I guess there's no reason not to.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
I always brought frozen meals with me when I worked in an office. It was so much easier and quicker.
Lori says
I love keeping meals on hand in the freezer. It helps me out so much as a busy mom.
Kelsey Apley says
I love to have quick and easy meal options like this ready on days I am working and can't really break away from taking a lunch break. I still fuel my body and don't have to worry about prep time.
Elizabeth @ Being MVP says
So many coworkers bring frozen meals to the office. I need to leave some just in case for days I don't go out for lunch.
Jenna Wood says
I've always wondered how 'flash' frozen works to keep food fresher. I know I notice the quality in my frozen meals when they are processed at their peak of freshness!
Meagan Ivie says
Frozen foods really come in handy as a busy mom! I can't believe how far frozen food has come, there are definitely some tasty dishes out there.
Nolie says
I love the convenience of frozen food. Price not so much.
Daisy says
We rely on frozen foods a lot because we get so busy, especially during the school year. I love having frozen foods like this on hand.
Janel (A Mom's Take) says
On busy nights I like to rely on what I have hidden in my freezer. Makes life so much easier.
Amy D says
Love frozen foods for days when I do not want to cook. That Mac n cheese is my favorite!
Pam says
I like to stock the house with frozen foods. That way my son and husband have something healthy to eat when I am gone on errands or on business!
Stefani Tolson says
While I do prefer to cook most of our meals there are times when frozen foods come in handy. When the kids are at school and I need a quick lunch, I have some of my favorite frozen meals on hand in the freezer.
kristin says
Frozen foods are a moms best friend. I love frozen and fresh foods. Semi-homemade is my game!
Chelley @ AisForAdelaide says
Frozen foods have come such a long way! I really need to rely on them after baby 2 comes, for sure!
Shauna says
I used to bring them to work with me too! Definitely helped me save money and actually kept me a little more healthy, as when I go out I tend to indulge...
Jennifer says
I use frozen foods a lot. Premade foods are great for when you have zero time, and frozen veggies and meats are great to throw into a crock pot.
Dawn says
Frozen food is so convenient. It runs the gamut, too. You can have frozen pizza, pre-made dinners, or use frozen veggies and fruits to throw into a slow cooker.
Ann Bacciaglia says
I always have frozen food in the freezer. As a single mom with two teens, there are many times when we are all busy and cooking a big dinner is not possible!
Stefany says
I ate more frozen foods when I worked out of the home. I still love them though now because of how convenient they are.
Mama to 5 BLessings says
Frozen meals have really helped my family especially with rushing out the door to soccer or football practices!
Kristin Wheeler (@MamaLuvsBooks) says
Some frozen can be just as tasty as fresh! They are so convenient too!
Lisa says
Frozen veggies are my go to a lot of times. I love all the varieties and flavors now available.
Emily says
Oh what is that Asian dish? It looks great!
Liz Mays says
I'm a big fan of frozen meals like this because they're delicious and EASY. I also like the portion control.
Marcie W. says
We don't eat many frozen foods around here, but I always have a few items, such as organic frozen burritos and tater tots, on hand for those just in case moments that are sure to happen at some point.!