This post is sponsored by the NFRA.
A Dietitian’s Guide for What to Buy in Safeway’s Frozen Foods Aisle.
Plus, get this Immune Builder Beet Smoothie made with citrus and frozen beets!
You guys, grocery stores. They are one of my things. I love exploring (yes, even with a toddler), although these days it looks more like the little guy “helping mama push the shopping cart” or me literally running down the aisle chasing after him because he loves to RUN… away. Yes, I’m that mom you see that has no control over her screaming child who may or may not be throwing a tantrum on the floor.
Sooooo… Safeway, I wrote about my obsession with O Organics (exclusive to Safeway) last year; since March is National Frozen Food Month, today I wanted to share with you my favorite finds in their frozen aisle ANNDDD I’m tempting you with this immune building beet smoothie. You’re pumped, right?
But first, coffee. Literally they have a Starbucks in our Safeway!!! HELLO, you know I’m an instant fan. Safeway, you had me at coffee. So promptly after wiping down my shopping cart with the antibacterial wipes (goodbye germs), I swung through to pick up a latte. Oh yes, we are off to a good start.
After coffee, I hit up the frozen aisle which has so many unique finds that I just had to put together this list of favorites for you. I literally had a frozen foods high after leaving the aisle! It was so fun.
Frozen Fruit
Frozen fruits provide all the benefits of fresh with an increased shelf life, pre prepped convenience, and often a better price. And that’s WINNING in my mom book. They are frozen at the peak of ripeness so they are fresh and full of good nutrition. I love to add a variety of frozen fruits to smoothies (DUH) and berries to oatmeal and pancakes- they will thaw as the oatmeal cooks and add a boost of antioxidants and vitamins! Two of my favorite brands at Safeway are Earthbound Farm Organic and O Organics (oh and they have organic wild blueberries at a great price!
In a hurry? Pre-made smoothie packets are a super easy way to put together a healthy snack or meal in no time! Just add a packet and liquid to the blender for a quick breakfast or snack—I like these Campoverde Fruit & Veggie Blenders and they have several fun varieties that incorporate the benefits of both fruits and vegetables!
Frozen Vegetables
Frozen vegetables are super convenient when you are busy. I love the Earthbound Farm Organic Power Blend because it combines the power of three leafy greens – spinach, kale and swiss chard, making it easy to add a nutritional punch to pasta, soups or even a smoothie! Frozen root vegetables are the way to go (no peeling or dicing involved); they’re easy to add to your favorite soups or make an easy side dish. Beets are one of my favorite root vegetables! Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and inflammatory compounds. Make a smoothie with beets like this Immune Builder Beet Smoothie, or add to a salad to give that extra nutritious punch to your meal. Frozen makes it so easy to just grab a handful and throw into your smoothie! I used Earthbound Farms Rustic Cut Organic Ruby Red Beets in this beet smoothie. Isn’t the color of this beet smoothie amazing??
Winter squash is packed full of vitamin A, a vitamin important to maintain eye health. It’s also rich in iron and calcium which are hard to find nutrients in plant foods. It is great for a soup base and versatile enough to stir into oatmeal or eaten as is topped with walnuts. Cascadian Farms Organic Winter Squash is a great choice as the only ingredient is organic winter squash! Thats right, no additives.
Craving tots? Sweet potato tots are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Yum! They make a great side dish to family meals or toss them on top of a salad! Bonus: each serving of Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs provides 60% of your daily vitamin A needs! These are my son’s fav.
Frozen Grains
P.F. Chang’s Steamed Brown Rice has no additives, which we love! Choose the brown rice option for the whole grain benefits, such as fiber, and vitamins and minerals. Bonus…this rice is already cooked and easy to throw in your stir fry, soup or salad AKA less dishes and kitchen clean up, thanks to frozen brown rice!!
Gluten Free? Safeway offers a wide variety of GF options in the frozen aisle. Storing bread in the fridge can make it dry out, but freezing it means it will stay fresh until you’re ready to use it. I’m a big fan of Udi’s Gluten Free Millet-Chia Bread, it contains a hefty dose of Omega-3s and fiber thanks to the ancient grains millet and chia!
Frozen Convenience Foods
There are some nights when nothing but pizza will do. Having a frozen pizza or two on hand means you can be prepared when these nights happen! The roasted veggie option from Open Nature has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Another vegetarian option is the spinach and feta pizza from O Organics. Both provide calcium from the cheese and vitamins A & C from the veggies. Pair with a salad and a protein for a complete, delicious meal!
In our busy lives sometimes the convenience of already prepared foods are the closest we’ll get to home style cooking. However smart choices are important, because let’s face it not all convenience foods are created equal. Safeway carries Evol Foods Thai Style Curry Chicken. This is a smart choice as it is gluten free and provides 15g of protein per serving, less than 6g of sugar, and 2g fiber along with vitamins & minerals such as vitamin A, C, and iron for a great choice on work day or evening.
Frozen Treats
Lets face it, everybody has a sweet craving once in awhile, and ice cream is my sweet of choice. Alden’s Cookies & Cream Ice Cream (YUMM) always goes into my shopping cart 😉
Oh and if you’re not all about grocery shopping like I am… Safeway has a grocery delivery service (and in full disclosure I did place an order while writing this post…because organic wild blueberries and diapers were a must)…can you tell I’m squealing with excitement??!!!
So I’d love to know, do you shop at Safeway?? What are your favorite frozen food finds to add to your grocery cart? If you make this Immune Builder Beet Smoothie be sure to share a pic by tagging @KristinaLaRueRD and use the #loveandzest!
If you need more frozen food inspiration and recipes, be sure to visit EasyHomeMeals.com and visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Immune Builder Beet Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
This Immune Builder Beet Smoothie made with citrus and frozen beets! Love the color of this smoothie!!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons raw cashews
- 2 medjool dates, pitted (optional) *can also use maple syrup
- 2 cara cara or navel oranges, peeled
- 1 lemon, peeled
- 1 cup Earthbound Farms Frozen Organic Ruby Red Beets
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Soak cashews and dates in warm water for at least a minute; drain water and place in a blender.
- Add oranges, lemon, beets, and water to the blender. Blend until smooth.
- Add ice and blend until smooth. Pour into two glasses and enjoy.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie
Keywords: immune boosting, 5 minute
Hi I’m Kristina LaRue, RD (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. On Love & Zest, you’ll find healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast, meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.
Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!
If you’re a modern mama– I’d love for you to join my Facebook group A Modern Motherhood Collective!
My personal favorite weird-is-good smoothie ingredient is frozen cauliflower. Still with me? The cauliflower actually lends a creamy consistency without any of that funky cauliflower taste. Because it’s white, it doesn’t impact the color, which is great for vegetable skeptics.
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Great tips! You CAN find good-for-you foods in the freezer section!
I usually don’t like beets but I bet I would love them hidden in this delicious and beautiful colored smoothie!
What a great post! A lot of people don’t realize that so many healthy foods can be found in the freezer. The fact that they are frozen right at the source packs in those nutrients. Thanks for sharing!
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Frozen foods can be such a lifesaver sometimes! Love how quick and easy it can be to whip up a healthy meal with staples like these!
seriously you don’t even understand how timely this is!! I love keeping frozen beets on hand for my smoothies, but the places i used to find them don’t carry it any more!! WOHOOOO I’m off to Safeway today now because I love the benefits for my running!
You’re so right Amanda!!! Hope this recipe helps with your training.
We don’t have a Safeway here. We used to have Dominicks, which is the same, but those all closed too. I do love my frozen foods aisle though at our local stores. I always have frozen fruits and veggies on hand! And this smoothie is beautiful!
Great tips, lady!! I love that photo of your son — so adorable 🙂
And now I HAVE TO find those frozen beets! So awesome!
I just posted a beet protein smoothie the other day. I love the citrus added to this! Love the pink color! 🙂
I love my beets, they make my heart skip a beet and the color on this shake is amazing! Frozen fruits and veggies for smoothies are great to buy frozen and a great value. I do like to just freeze fresh we won’t eat before it goes bad but still there is a lot I buy frozen too.
You have a Starbucks in the store? That is amazing, it must make your trip just that much more enjoyable! Love the gold straws in the picture too 🙂
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So many great finds in the frozen foods section! This beet smoothie looks so pretty! I would love to be sipping on one right now!
What a great guide! I need to find that ice cream 🙂
This looks soooo good!!!
didn’t even know frozen beets were a thing! this sounds delicious, and i love the idea of adding cashews (it sounds so creamy and filling!).
Call me crazy but I LOVE grocery shopping with my 3 kids! It is definitely more work but I feel naked without them! LOL! I’m not sure how it will be once this baby is born though…I might have to just take the older ones and leave the two littles with daddy! 😉 I always have all of these freezer foods on hand! Fruits, veggies, and even convenience foods…because some nights momma needs a break!
We don’t have Safeway in Jersey, but I’ve definitely seen most of those brands in frozen food aisles of our local stores, so will definitely check out. I love beets in my smoothies!
I love adding beets too and frozen makes it so convenient.
I don’t have a Safeway in my area but I love smoothies and using frozen fruit in them! Never really thought about using the frozen veggies. Going try this though.
YES!! Frozen carrots work well too 🙂 And I usually freeze any fresh spinach before it goes bad to pop into the blender for smoothies.
These are amazing tips! I love the fruit idea. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Brandi 🙂 I love eating frozen mango and raspberries right out of the freezer.
How bright and delicious this looks! I love the blend of fruit and beets for a healthy sweet treat!
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Thanks Nikki!! We eat with our eyes, right?
I love the Earthbound Farm brand and use their products a lot. This smoothie looks yummy!! Antioxidants rock!
Agree! Thanks Elaine.
We always keep our freezer full of those fruit bags. They are so handy to make a quick smoothie as a snack.
I’m always in a hurry for breakfast and snack time…. perfect to keep on hand.
Those are all some awesome Safeway finds! Safeway’s actually the store I shop at most frequently – it’s only 1/2 mile away from my house! – and I love their organic options.
This smoothie is sooooo gorgeous! Vibrant, packed with nutrients…just perfect!
Um that’s amazing and I’m slightly jealous. It’s about a 15 minute drive for me…. have you tried their delivery service? Hands down it’s my favorite delivery service out there because prices are the same that you get in the store and they give $$ back if you choose “eco delivery” aka wider delivery window. I’m hooked.