By Liz Weiss, MS, RD
February is that time of the year when we are all looking for a little color to return to our lives, especially up here in New England where I live. Frozen fruits and vegetables can provide an illustrious boost of color, flavor, and nutrition, and they are often more affordable and more convenient for moms on the go. While frozen foods have been sadly maligned by some critics, as a mom and a nutritionist, I have found a variety of reasons to love them.
For one, when I choose frozen, I can use only what I need and not worry about waste. Second, because of my profession as a nutritionist, I happen to know that many fruits and vegetables are picked and frozen at the very peak of their ripeness, sealing in flavor, nutrition and health. These foods are excellent vehicles for bringing color into your winter diet, and a few of them – like frozen corn, frozen mango, and frozen fresh Wild Blueberries – are at the top of my list.
Last week, in between shoveling out from yet another snowstorm, I whipped up a recipe using frozen Wild Blueberries that was the delight of my 16-year-old son Simon. I called it a Wild Blueberry Frosty, but he said it was more like Pudding, so I went with his suggestions. Give this recipe a try for a colorful and healthy reward.
Frozen Wild Blueberry Pudding
Makes 4 Servings (a generous 1/3 cup each)
Frozen fruits—wild blueberries, mango, and banana—are the nutritional super stars in this healthy, delicious, and kid-friendly treat. It takes just minutes to prepare, and moms can feel good about serving this frozen fruit pudding as an after-school snack or family dessert. For a snowy twist, sprinkle shredded coconut on top.
Liz Weiss is an award-winning broadcast journalist, cookbook author, and radio show host who started Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen, a leading blog for parents in search of better ways to feed their family a super-nutritious diet. She’s also the co-author of two great books: No Whine with Dinner: 150 Healthy, Kid-Tested Recipes from The Meal Makeover Moms and The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers: Improving the Way Your Family Eats, One Meal at a Time and she recently released a mobile recipe app called, Meal Makeovers. You can read more about Liz at http://mealmakeovermoms.com/