Frozen food products may become a real benefit for the health of the whole family. And it does not really matter, whether you freeze fruit and vegetables in your freezer or buy them in the supermarkets - they still have lots of properties that add to the health and wellbeing of kids and adults. This is especially true during the winter and spring months, when the lack of vitamins in human bodies may result in different health problems. While adults have already got used to the consumption of seasonal fruit and vegetables in summer and autumn, kids need them throughout the year and the best way to provide them with the required vitamins and nutrients is to include frozen food products into their everyday menu. However, many parents have doubts concerning the benefits of this solution just because they do not know the most important nuances we will talk about further.
Frozen Fruits and Vegetables in the Kids Menu: When to Start?
Pediatricians all over the world recommend including frozen fruit and vegetables into the menu of kids since they turn 1.5 years old. You can try doing that earlier, but the reaction of the kid’s organism may be quite unexpected. This is because the gastrointestinal system of small kids may not be ready to digest such food, which may eventually result in unpleasant reactions, such as bloating, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, allergic reactions and even vomiting. So, if your kids are under 1.5 years old, it is better to buy canned fruits and vegetables that undergo special control. Has your son or daughter turned 1.5 years already? If so, then you can offer him/her frozen berries, fruits, vegetables as well as meat and fish. However, you should keep in mind that you should include these products into the menu of your kid gradually to watch the reaction.
How to Store Frozen Food Properly
It goes without saying that fresh products are indispensable and they cannot be substituted even by the high quality frozen foods. At the same time, frozen products (if stored properly) will also provide your kid with the required minerals, vitamins and nutrients their bodies lack in winter and autumn.
When it comes to freezing the products, keep in mind that it is important to place them into freezers, the temperature in which is not more than -18-20 C. The fact is that such a quick freezing ensures the maximum preservation of nutrients, which is exactly what you need. What’s more, such foods have almost the same taste qualities as compared to fresh foods. This means that the taste and aroma of your dishes will not differ from those your kids have already got used to.
There is one more important thing you should keep in mind! Having unfrozen the products, you should not freeze them once again. Good luck!
