Green Giant is a company that has been producing healthy products for over 70 years. It produces a nutritious and large variety of frozen vegetables and vegetable-based meals. The farming methods it uses help establish this standard of quality. The type of farming is called sustainable agriculture and is what is responsible for the frozen mixed vegetables.
Nutrition of Frozen Vegetables
Individuals may wonder if frozen vegetables provide the same nutrients and vitamins as fresh vegetables. That question has led to many research studies determining if frozen vegetables can be just as health as fresh vegetables.
The LIVESTRONG article "Fresh Versus Frozen Produce" is an evaluation of studies confirming frozen produce are just as nutritious as fresh produce and provide us with the same vitamins. To ensure customers get the most nutrients they can offer, Green Giants picks their vegetables at very specific times to ensure ripeness and nutritional value.
Green Giant Garden Vegetable Medley
The Green Giant company offers many variations of mixed vegetables. Some of its products are boxed variety vegetables with no sauce added to the product. Additionally, it offers vegetables with seasonings, sauces, healthy blends, valley fresh steamers, family size bagged, create a meal, and single vegetable serving size. Healthier varieties would not include a butter, cream or cheese sauce. The frozen products offer the convenience of having a cooked healthy vegetable on your table with just minutes of preparation.
Ingredients of Green Giant Frozen Garden Vegetable Medley
The Garden Vegetable Medley includes sugar snap peas, roasted potatoes, red bell peppers, garden herbs, such as parsley and chive, preservatives and flavorings. The servings per container are 4.5 cups. The nutrition facts stated are a serving of 1 cup frozen or 1 half cup prepared vegetables and are based on daily values. The daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The daily values may change according to the individuals specific caloric need.
Calories, Carbohydrate, Fiber and Protein Content
One half-cup serving of the mixed vegetables contains 70 calories and 14 g of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates make up the largest component in vegetables. Two of the 14 g of carbohydrates are dietary fibers. This 2 percent of fiber represents 8 percent of our dietary fiber needs. Fiber per the USDA is beneficial in the diet to help reduce heart disease. The 3 grams of sugar present are part of the vegetable but there are sugars added in the form of lactose, and maltodextrin. The 2 grams of protein are part of the vegetable but also the addition of hydrolyzed soy and corn protein which will slightly increase the protein content.
Fats, Minerals and Vitamins
Their are many different types of fat in a diet but they all fall into one of two categories: saturated and unsaturated. This product has 0.5 g of total fat. There are no saturated, or trans fatty acids present. The fat comes from unsaturated soy bean oil. This product would be considered low fat by FDA standards. The minerals provided 2 percent of your daily calcium needs and 4 percent of your daily iron. These small traces of minerals won't make a major difference in your diet. However, any amount of calcium received benefits your bones, and small amounts of iron will help prevent iron deficiency anemia.
Green Giant vegetables provide large amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Vegetables are actually one of the best sources for these two vitamins. The Vitamin A represents a full 10 percent of your daily allowance. Vitamin A and C are especially high in yellow and orange vegetables. Vitamin A is essential for human health and our vision, especially night vision. In addition Vitamin A is also responsible for our cells to develop.
Vitamin C in this product represents a full 25 percent of our daily value which represents a solid amount of Vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a role for cell regulation and collagen production. Overall, the vegetables in this product provide us with a nutritious, low fat, high vitamin A and C content food item.
References
- LIVESTRONG: Fresh Versus Frozen Produce
- FDA.gov: Food Labeling
- "The Health Professional's Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements;" Allison Sarubin, MS, RD; 2000
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