11+ Fast and Yummy Ways to Use Frozen Veggies In Your Meals For Added Nutrient Density In a Flash!
The holiday rush is about to kick into high gear, and I’ve been chatting with my clients about simple ways to up their nutrient intake with less work or stress.
One go-to solution? Frozen veggies. I’ve got loads of ideas for different, easy ways to try them.
But first, if you’re skeptical about frozen veggies, hear me out. There’s been a fun revolution in the frozen veggie aisle—we’re no longer limited to a borning succotash of corn, peas, and carrots. Now, you can get a wide variety of frozen veggies and all sorts of tasty blends. (There’s a high-protein mixture at Whole Foods I’m obsessed with, for example, that’s filled with lentils, small broccoli florets, and sliced yellow bell peppers.)
Veggies are picked and frozen at their peak so the nutrient content can actually be higher than that in some fresh veggies you’ll find at the grocery store. Also, since most frozen vegetables are already parboiled, they whip up in a flash; and of course, as an added bonus, they last a lot longer than fresh veggies so you can always keep some on hand.
Below are 11 meal or snack ideas featuring frozen veggies (choose your favorite types) to help you get more fiber on your plate faster and with less stress.
First, quick sauté them in a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper (add some fresh garlic if you’re feeling extra fancy) and then:
Top them on avocado toast with a bit of feta or goat cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar
Pair with scrambled eggs (one of my favorite fast breakfasts)
Use them in an omelet
Add them to your favorite grains along with fresh herbs, olive oil, and a flavored vinegar for a simple grain salad (try farro, barley, bulgur, or whole wheat orzo)
Spread a flatbread with ricotta cheese and top with the frozen veg and drizzle of honey or balsamic reduction
Smear hummus on a whole wheat tortilla and top it with your veggie blend, some fresh greens, swiss cheese, and sliced turkey along with your favorite oil and vinegar combo
Make a loaded baked potato—topped with the veg, some cheese, turkey bacon, sunflower seeds, or whatever else sounds yummy to you
Use them in veggie quesadillas
Or:
Make a simple stir-fry with your favorite stir-fry sauce, add shrimp, chicken, or tofu and pair it with brown rice
Add them to soup
Roast them in your air fryer and eat them as a side dish
Add frozen spinach, riced cauliflower, or carrots to a smoothie
As I tell my Intuitive Eating clients, there's no getting around the fact that eating well takes some planning and forethought. But that doesn’t mean it has to be overly complicated or time-consuming. Frozen veggies can be a great way to add plant foods to your plate.