FROZEN food has always been cool.
As the cost-of-living bites there’s never been a better time to stock up on foods that can survive for months in your trusty freezer.
GettyExperts have said that some of the frozen foods you consume could be harming your waist line[/caption]
And there’s nothing wrong with that, right?
According to nutritionist Signe Svanfeldt at Lifesum there are some frozen foods you should leave off the shopping order.
Speaking to The Sun, the guru reasoned that items from the chillier aisles of the supermarket can be great for our health.
Signe explained: “There are plenty of great options out there filled with nutrients and dietary fibre, including frozen whole grain bread, vegetables, fruits and berries.
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“However, there are also some frozen foods that are quite low in nutrients while high in sodium, saturated fats and added sugar.
“We should aim to eat these in lower amounts, as a high intake of these foods have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes and obesity.”
But what are the worst offenders?
1. Pizzas
Pizzas are lovely treat, but a lot of the frozen ones have thicker crusts and are often topped with processed meat.
“These are high in sodium and saturated fat, which if eaten in excessive amounts are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity”, Signe said.
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2. Pastries
Pastries are a delicious breakfast food and go perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee.
But Signe said that these are typically high in saturated fat.
“This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and added sugar, which could increase the risk of type-2 diabetes and obesity”, she added.
3. Deep fried foods
While they might be delicious, fried foods, especially those that are frozen with added preservatives, are high in saturated fats and sodium.
Signe said: “Consuming a large amount of these foods are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity”.
4. Sausages
A national staple food in the UK, but these tend to be high in saturated fat as well as sodium, Signe said.
If eaten in large amounts, sausages are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity, she added.
5. Ready meals
They are quick and convenient, but they tend to be high in saturated fat and sodium, which if eaten in large amounts are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity, Signe said.
6. Fries
If you’re buying frozen chips or fries then you should always look at the ingredients, as a lot of the time they can include added cooking oils and salt.
This is also the same if you order the food when you’re out and about as most big brands use frozen fries.
Registered dietitian Janet Coleman who works with the ConsumerMag said: “When you order French fries, you’re also getting a heaping helping of fat and calories”.
7. Pie
A comforting and wholesome food, there’s no doubt a pie will leave you feeling all fuzzy inside.
But one expert questioned whether or not eating them is worth compromising your health for.
Allison Tallman, registered dietitian at SportingSmiles.com told Fox: “There is limited beneficial nutritional value coming from this product. The excess calories and fat may lead to weight gain”.
The nutritional value of food doesn’t change if you freeze it, but foods that are produced to be frozen will sometimes have added ingredients to help keep them preserved.
Signe added that if you want to find food items that are richer in nutrients, and have less sodium, added sugar and saturated fat, make sure to always check the nutritional label and find options with less of these.
“That said, no food items or nutrients are so unhealthy that you fully need to exclude them from your diet, it is all about having a balanced and varied diet in line with your energy requirement”, she added.