Coronavirus: Nutritionist explains what frozen foods you should stock up on during pandemic

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Because many restaurants are closed, many families’ across the Mid-South spend more time at home, cooking.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials constantly urge people avoid large group gatherings.

That can be hard if you have to go to the grocery store.

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Jennifer Presson is a nutritionist at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis and said it’s best that people stock up on frozen foods and canned foods since they have a longer shelf life than fresh produce.

“Don’t focus right now on buying the fresh produce and lettuces, stuff that goes bad pretty quickly,” Presson said.

Presson recommends stocking up on frozen vegetables, frozen and canned fruits, and whole wheat pastas.

Depending on what you have purchased or what you may already have in your freezer, Presson said there are a lot of meal options you can make for your family that is still healthy.

“Instant brown rice, instant quinoa, things that we can cook really quickly," she said. "Add some canned beans to frozen vegetables and make kind of a grain bowl on a whim.”

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Presson stressed it’s important to know what you’re putting in your body and watching how much you consume.

Presson mentions that nutrition is like stress or losing sleep, it can weigh down your body and impact your immune system.

“Pay attention to the times that you’re eating, the quantity that you’re eating, if you’re mindlessly snacking and things like that,” Presson said.

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Another way you can keep track of your meals, Presson suggested to write it down in a journal.

She also recommends that you take some kind of vitamin everyday to keep you healthy and give your immune system a boost.

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