The other day, I was the victim of poor planning. I had neglected to do a thorough grocery trip, didn’t plan what I was going to make for dinner and just thought I’d think of something on the fly. I visited the closest grocery store, but was appalled at how expensive they were compared to my regular store, which was a few miles further away. So I didn’t buy what I needed and went back home thinking I’d make do. While trying to make an easy go of dinner later in the day, I found myself at Costco. Great, I thought to myself, I’ll just pick up what I need here. But then I realized I didn’t need 10 pounds of carrots, so went home empty handed. My refrigerator did not produce any edible vegetable, so I dug deep: the freezer. Luckily, I found some sweet potato fries, only mildly freezer burned. Then I realized that I’m probably not the only person who’s had to resort to my freezer and that I’m not using it to its full potential! So, if you want to have a well stocked freezer that meets your need in a pinch, then check out our list of freezer staples that you never want to be without.
1. Frozen Vegetables
My constant struggle with eating vegetables before they go bad has made me realize the importance of keeping frozen veggies on hand. They will save you in a pinch, and ensure your meals are well rounded. Don’t be afraid that frozen vegetables are not as good as fresh. In fact, sometimes they are better! Frozen veggies are frozen at the height of their freshness, and are locked in at that point. Fresh vegetables are often kept in the store until the very last moment before they go bad. They are also very inexpensive and there often more options than what you’ll find in the produce section.
2. Frozen Berries & Other Fruit
Frozen fruit is an awesome item to have on hand, especially if you have a picky eater. Smoothies are a great way to integrate fruit into your family’s diet, and berries are healthy and delicious. Frozen fruit is also great if you need to make a dessert on the fly. As with frozen vegetables, fruit is just as healthy as fresh and lasts much longer than those strawberries in your fridge (which you just bought yesterday and they already look like they’ve gone bad!). You will also have access to more options because frozen fruits are not just limited to what’s in season in your local area.
3. Chicken
Grocery prices seem like they continue to rise, and meat is one of the most expensive items on your weekly shopping list. Most of the time, large frozen bags of chicken are more cost effective and you get more than you would by purchasing fresh. You also don’t run the risk of getting an accidentally spoiled package that’s gone rancid (happened to me more than a few times!). If you don’t know what to make for dinner, or just need 1 breast for a casserole, having frozen chicken on hand will save you a last minute dash to the store.
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Karly Wood
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