When you don’t have time, frozen fruits and veggies are the quick, convenient solution to put a meal on the table without the hassle of washing, peeling, or chopping. But nothing beats fresh produce. When it comes to nutrition what’s the difference?

Frozen varieties are an easy option that ensures you get your daily dose, but they're also just as nutritious because they're picked fully ripe and then processed right away. Frozen vegetables are generally preferable to canned, except when it comes to tomatoes.

Here are a few guidelines you should follow when buying canned or frozen fruits and vegetables:

• Always look for fruits and vegetables canned in water or their own juices, and be sure to check the label for added salt.
• Most canned and frozen vegetables are cooked during processing so it's important to use shorter cooking times and lower temperatures to preserve nutritional value.
• Instead of boiling frozen or canned vegetables, try steaming, baking, or even microwaving them. These methods require less water, which means more nutrients.

There you have it. Choose fresh or frozen for good health. Now you can be sure your frozen fruit smoothie or your next stir-fry has all the nutrients you need.