Finding Balance in Your Plate: The Role of Canned and Frozen Vegetables

In the world of culinary delight and nutritional wisdom, the mantra "fresh is best" often takes centre stage. And rightfully so! Fresh produce, bursting with flavour and nutrients, holds an esteemed place in our diets. 

However, in our quest for optimal health, it's essential to recognise the valuable role that canned and frozen vegetables play in our kitchens and on our plates.

The Freshness Conundrum

Fresh vegetables undoubtedly offer a sensory experience like no other. The vibrant colorus, crisp textures, and aromatic scents evoke a connection to nature that enhances our dining pleasure. Moreover, fresh produce often boasts peak nutritional content, having undergone minimal processing or preservation.

However, the allure of freshness comes with its challenges. Fresh vegetables have a limited shelf life, making them susceptible to spoilage if not consumed promptly. Additionally, their availability may be seasonal or region-specific, posing constraints on variety and accessibility throughout the year. These factors can hinder our ability to maintain a consistently diverse and nutrient-rich diet.

Enter Canned and Frozen Varieties

In our modern food landscape, canned and frozen vegetables emerge as convenient and practical alternatives to their fresh counterparts. While some may perceive them as inferior in quality or nutritional value, these perceptions often overlook the benefits they bring to the table.

1. Convenience: Canned and frozen vegetables offer unparalleled convenience. They are readily available year-round, require minimal preparation, and have an extended shelf life. Busy individuals and families can enjoy the ease of incorporating these options into quick and nutritious meals, reducing reliance on takeout or processed foods.

2. Nutrient Retention: Contrary to popular belief, canned and frozen vegetables can retain significant amounts of nutrients. Advances in food processing techniques have led to improved methods of preservation, such as flash-freezing and canning at peak ripeness. These methods lock in essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring that your vegetables maintain their nutritional integrity even after preservation. In fact if "fresh" vegetables have hung around in warehouses for extended periods of time their nutritional value may be less than in preserved vegetables.

3. Affordability: In many cases, canned and frozen vegetables offer a cost-effective solution to meeting dietary needs. They are often more budget-friendly than fresh produce, making them accessible to individuals and families with varying financial constraints. By choosing canned or frozen options, consumers can stretch their grocery budgets without compromising on nutritional quality.

4. Reduced Food Waste: One of the most significant advantages of canned and frozen vegetables is their contribution to reducing food waste. Unlike fresh produce, which may spoil if not consumed promptly, canned and frozen varieties have a longer shelf life, allowing for greater flexibility in meal planning. By minimising waste at the consumer level, these preservation methods support sustainability efforts and promote responsible food consumption.

Striking a Balance

While fresh vegetables undoubtedly hold a revered place in our culinary repertoire, it's essential to embrace the versatility and practicality of canned and frozen varieties. By striking a balance between fresh, canned, and frozen options, we can create a well-rounded and sustainable approach to nutrition.

Here are some tips for incorporating canned and frozen vegetables into your diet:

Read Labels: Look for canned vegetables with no added salt or sugar, and opt for frozen varieties without added sauces or seasonings to minimise unnecessary additives.

Experiment with Recipes: Get creative in the kitchen by experimenting with different cooking techniques and flavour combinations. Canned and frozen vegetables can be incorporated into soups, stews, stir-fries, and casseroles with delicious results.

Stock Up Smartly: Keep a variety of canned and frozen vegetables on hand to ensure you always have nutritious options available, especially during busy weeks or when fresh produce is scarce.

Combine Fresh and Preserved: Mix fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables in your meals to enjoy the best of all worlds. Use fresh produce when available for peak flavour and texture, and supplement with canned or frozen options to enhance convenience and variety.

In conclusion, while fresh vegetables undoubtedly hold a special place in our hearts and on our plates, canned and frozen varieties offer invaluable benefits in terms of convenience, nutrition, affordability, and sustainability. By embracing a balanced approach to vegetable consumption, we can nourish our bodies, delight our taste buds, and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable food system. So, let's celebrate the diverse array of vegetables available to us and savor each bite, whether fresh, canned, or frozen!

Home frozen bananas make an excellent treat

Home frozen bananas make a nutritious, tasty and cooling treat for those hot summer days. And I offer my thanks to my wife, Anni, for coming up with this idea.

Peel your bananas, place then in a suitable freezer proof container, perhaps employing freezer boxes or freezer bags and then place them in your freezer.

Leave them in your freezer for a suitable period of time (at least several hours) and then taken them out and enjoy them as a very tasty, frozen treat.

Yes, we admit to being inspired by the folks over at Pukpip who produce very tasty chocolate dipped banana lollies. You can read about them, here https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2023/07/pukpip-on-path-to-rapid-growth.html.

However, my wife does have a chocolate allergy so her idea of non-dipped frozen bananas is very helpful to herself and anyone else who has a chocolate allergy. 

Frozen bananas will make an excellent sweet but low sugar snack for any time of the year and I feel they'll make a great treat for Christmas, perhaps especially if served with typical Christmas sweet spices such as ginger, all spice, cinnamon, etc. That is if you can stop people from eating them as soon as they are frozen!) 

(Image courtesy of Guilherme Machado from Pixabay)

This dessert ticks so many boxes!

Everyone wants to cool down on a hot day, but without making unhealthy choices.

Pukpip is nature’s alternative to Ice Cream with their Frozen bananas dipped in yummy chocolate!

It meets every criteria. It's sustainable as it made by employing only wonky fruits. Incidentally, the dark chocolate ones are vegan friendly. So they are 100% literally perfect!

Pukpip’s Real Frozen Banana Dipped in Milk Chocolate unites perfectly ripe frozen banana with a velvety-smooth 32% cocoa milk chocolate. The flavour combination has received recognition in the 2022 Great Taste Awards. 152Kcal. Available in multipacks of 3 at RRP of £3.99

Available at Plant Organic, WholeFoods Market, and lots of independent health shops, too.

Also available to order online: UK's Online Store for Food, Health, Wellbeing, Beauty & Personal Care (wholefoodsbox.co.uk)

Dark Chocolate

Pukpip’s Real Frozen Banana Dipped in Dark Chocolate combines cool, creamy banana with smooth, sweet 52% dark chocolate. A bittersweet combination. 161 Kcal and Vegan Certified. Available in multipacks of 3 at RRP of £3.99

Available at Plant Organic, WholeFoods Market, and lots of independent health shops

Also available to order online: UK's Online Store for Food, Health, Wellbeing, Beauty & Personal Care (wholefoodsbox.co.uk)

 

 

Pukpip on the Path to Rapid Growth Following New Trend for Frozen Snacking

The first six months for Pukpip has proven the consumer demand for permissible yet indulgent frozen fruit snacks. Pukpip's Frozen Bananas Dipped in Chocolate are being snapped up by UK retailers and enjoyed by consumers across the whole country.  

Following the successful launch of Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate, Pukpip has now added White Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas to the range, CLF and Suma are the first to add the White Chocolate option to their wholesale distribution. 

New Pukpip White Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas combine deliciously sweet real frozen banana, with creamy white chocolate with yummy hints of vanilla. A wonderfully delicious pairing. Only 152 calories per frozen banana and a source of fibre and potassium, too.  

The latest retailer to see the potential is Planet Organic, having listed the Dark Chocolate to all their London stores. Pukpip products are also stocked with Vegan Kind and Whole Foods Market, and all three chocolate options are now available to order online with Wholefoods Box. 

“Our consumer research indicated a demand for frozen snacks that combine a balance of whole fruit with a bit of indulgence, but now the products are in bricks and mortar stores the response has been amazing! Our stockists have said that they're flying out of the freezers and consumer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We're thrilled to be able to add the White Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas to the range, which is set to have wide appeal for both kids and grown-ups alike.” says Zara Godfrey, Managing Director at Pukpip's MD. 

According to the BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation) frozen food has seen something of a renaissance over recent years as it proves to be more applicable to modern lifestyles and helps to reduce waste and preserve nutrients. Frozen Foods are now more important than ever, and innovation continues to see what are described as challenger brands leading the way.  

Perfectly tapping into the trend of permissible yet indulgent snacking, Pukpip's frozen bananas provide the balance of wholesome goodness with indulgent frozen snacking and are challenging the ice cream category with whole, real fruit. The wide appeal of a real fruit treat that is only 152 – 161 Kcal, is gluten free, vegan (Dark Chocolate only), and nothing artificial is enabling Pukpip to come to the forefront in the ice cream category and new food innovations. 

Pukpip has also featured in Asda's Trends Book for 2023/2024ii , the book highlights the trend for products with fewer ingredients and reduced processing. With Pukpip products being simply banana and chocolate, consumers know what to expect and can easily add more fruit into their diet via this fun, frozen, fruity snack. 

Consumer awareness of the impact our food choices have on the environment has also helped Pukpip to position itself, by rescuing wonky bananas that would otherwise go to waste and helping them find their true calling as tasty, chocolate-covered treats. The banana peels are also upcycled back into the ecosystem.  

The next step for Pukpip will be the launch of singles this summer. Available to retailers and hospitality for both on-the-go snacking and as a dessert option for restaurants and cafes. Pukpip's singles are ideally placed to fit amongst the handheld ice creams as natures alternative to ice cream, a permissible on-the-go snack. 

Pukpip Real Frozen Bananas are only 152-161 calories each, contain nothing artificial and can be enjoyed as a snack, treat or dessert. Pukpip has been shortlisted in this year's Health & Wellbeing Awards in the Healthy Snacks category. The Milk Chocolate Dipped Bananas have picked up a 2022 Great Taste Award, the Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas have been Vegan Certified, and the White Chocolate is the latest addition to the range. Pukpip's frozen bananas are available to trade in in multipacks of 3 at an RRP of £3.99, singles coming soon.

To become a stockist or to find out more email hello@pukpip.com or visit www.pukpip.com. Follow @hellopukpip for news and updates. 

You'll go Bananas for Pukpip frozen bananas in chocolate

Challenger brand Pukpip has announced its Real Frozen Bananas Dipped in Chocolate are now stocked in Whole Foods Market, just in time for ice cream season. 

Pukpip is challenging the traditional ice cream category by tapping into the rise of permissible yet indulgent frozen fruit snacks. Breaking the mould for frozen treats, Pukpip's frozen bananas are a real fruit alternative to traditional ice cream.

“We believe that Whole Foods Market is the perfect fit for Pukpip, as we strive to help people eat more fruit in ways that are fun, delicious and convenient, providing indulgent fruit snacks that don't compromise on taste,” explains Zara Godfrey, who is the MD at Pukpip.

The London retailer which specialises in responsibly sourced, high-quality foods has added Pukpip's first two products, Milk and Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas to the frozen section in all seven of it stores.

To celebrate the launch into Whole Foods Market, Pukpip has invested in an eye-catching window display in the Flagship Kensington High Street store, plus OOH media in July around prime London locations to drive awareness of the product listing.

Zara went on to say: “Nine out of ten of us are looking to add more fruit into our diet, and we want to make it easy, fun, and delicious. The creaminess of a frozen banana combined with the tasty, smooth satisfying chocolate makes for an irresistible treat that consumers will be keen to get their hands on this summer. Real fruit, that's indulgent so consumers can feel good about treating themselves!”

Obviously, Pukpip's bananas are responsibly sourced and freshly frozen at source in the coastal region of Ecuador. Using bananas rejected from export due to minor blemishes on their skin, because they're the wrong shape or size, or simply because there are too many on a bunch; Pukpip rescues these wonky bananas that would otherwise be wasted, helping them find their true calling as tasty, chocolate-covered treats. The banana peels are recycled back into the ecosystem.

Pukpip Real Frozen Bananas are only 152-161 calories each, contain no artificial and are ideally positioned as a snack, treat or dessert. The Milk Chocolate Dipped Bananas have picked up a 2022 Great Taste Award and the Dark Chocolate Dipped Bananas are Vegan Certified. Pukpip's frozen bananas are available to retail in milk chocolate and dark chocolate, in multipacks of 3 at an RRP of £3.99

Want to become a stockist? Need to learn  more? Email hello@pukpip.com or visit www.pukpip.com. Follow @hellopukpip for news and updates.

(This is making me feel hungry for frozen bananas in chocolate!)