Kid Friendly Frozen Favorites

I'm a big believer in seasonal eating, in sustainablity, in eating fresh, locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables - you know, I'm a big believer in being perfect. I also have a 16-month-old daughter. Thus far, one of the most important parenting lessons I've learned is that perfection is impossible, and trying to be perfect just makes you cranky. Preparing fresh, nutritious food from scratch can be pretty hard to do when you can't even find the time to shower.

Enter frozen foods. Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh, sometimes even more so, as they're frozen at the peak of ripeness. Also, buying frozen organic produce is usually much cheaper than buying fresh. Here's a list of my favorite, time-saving, kid-friendly frozen foods (I eat them all, too).

Amy's Organic

Amy's Organic tops the list of kid-friendly frozen foods by a mile. Their pocket sandwiches are delicious, take two minutes in the microwave, and are made with organic flour and vegetables. The broccolli and cheese and spinach pizza pocket sandwiches are big favorites around my house. They pack a nice nutritional wallop, providing lots of vitamin A, calcium and iron. Amy's Nacho Snacks, Vegetable Pot Pies, and Macaroni and Cheese dinners also rank high on my list. Great for quick lunches.

Bell and Evans Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders

A healthy take on a kid classic, these tenders are made from chicken raised without antibiotics or hormones, and they're flash fried in a non-hydrogenated oil to set the breading. These make a good dinner-in-a-pinch, paired with whatever frozen veggies you have on hand.

Whole Foods Market - Whole Kitchen Bean and Cheese Taquitos

These don't do so well in the microwave, but they cook up very quickly in the toaster or conventional oven. A decent source of iron, and a good size for little hands. A little too crunchy for very young toddlers.

Cascadian Farm Organic Frozen Blueberries

The perfect convenience snack - if you don't mind a purple mess. They thaw very quickly and are a tasty and antioxidant-rich addition to most breakfasts - oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, cereal. My daughter eats them plain, by the handful. These are a wonderful addition to summer smoothies as well.

Don't slave over a hot stove on a beautiful day. Take advantage of these healthy, quick foods - and then take your kids to the park.