The frozen food section of the grocery store can be massively intimidating. There are shelves upon shelves of easy-to-prepare foods you can buy frozen, and while some of those items are popular to grab—like bags of frozen fruit for smoothies, frozen pizza, or one of these healthy frozen dinners—there are a few underrated frozen food items that are typically ignored. One of those items, in particular, can easily help boost the nutrition of your home-cooked meals. Which is why we deemed frozen peas as the most underrated frozen food item at the grocery store.
Between the nutritional value, the cheap price, and the convenience of frozen peas, you would think more people would stock up their freezer with bags of peas. If you’re not one to grab a bag of frozen peas on a regular basis, here’s why you should start. And for more healthy eating tips, be sure to check out our list of 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.
Why frozen peas are the most underrated frozen food
First, let’s look at the nutritional value. A typical 1/2 cup serving of frozen peas can provide you with 4 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, as well as all kinds of vitamins and nutrients including vitamins A, K, and C. It’s only 11 grams of carbohydrates, and clocks out at only 62 calories per a 1/2 cup serving.
What’s particularly important to note is the fiber and the protein content of frozen peas. Getting your daily amount of fiber is incredibly important for maintaining weight loss, along with your overall health. The daily recommended intake for fiber is 38 grams for men and 25 grams for women. Most people don’t get that much fiber in a day—they average somewhere between 10 and 15. So finding ways to boost your fiber count throughout the day is important.
Getting 4 grams of protein is also high coming from a vegetable. A 1/2 cup serving of this underrated frozen food provides you with almost as much protein that you would find in a large egg (which includes 5 grams of protein), and the same amount as a tablespoon of peanut butter. This is especially helpful for anyone looking to rely more on plant-based proteins in their diet.
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How to add frozen peas into your meals
Peas can be an easy way to add even more fiber and protein into your savory meals. You can add peas to:
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Salads
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Pasta dishes
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Fried rice
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Stir fry
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Egg scrambles
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Casseroles
Or you could simply serve them on the side with a rotisserie chicken you picked up from the store!
As you can see, frozen peas are versatile enough to be thrown in all kinds of dishes. So go grab a bag of this underrated frozen food item and start experimenting with adding more frozen peas to your meals today! Just make sure to avoid these 15 Mistakes You’re Making When Cooking Frozen Foods.
