Is Canned Food as Nutritious as Fresh Food? — Grocery Store Canned Goods

When it comes to veggies, the more you eat the better. But of course, not all vegetables are created equally. Eating iceberg lettuce, which is basically a vehicle for salad dressing, just won't deliver as many nutrients as a powerhouse like broccoli or kale. And then, there's the question of where you get your vegetables— from the produce section, the freezer, or the canned goods aisle.

Research reveals that fresh and frozen produce are basically equivalent nutritionally — in fact, with some vegetables, such as green beans, frozen has an edge over the limp, past-their-prime version in your fridge. But what about canned vegetables? Are budget-friendly, long-lasting canned veggies a good, healthy alternative to fresh?

To find out if you should keep your can opener at the ready, we checked in with Diana Orenstein, RD, a dietician at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, who shared some considerations to keep in mind.

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