Product Showcase: Guest blogger Janel Ovrut
Product Showcase: Trader Joe’s Frozen Brown Rice
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When Marci asked me to do a Product Showcase guest blog post for a food I love, the first thing that came to mind for me was Trader Joe’s Frozen Brown Rice. I know it sounds basic and boring, but this frozen food gem has saved me many nights when I was too tired, rushed, or hungry to make a more elaborate meal.
This frozen brown rice makes life easier by coming packaged in three 10-ounce packets of rice, that you simply snip a tiny hole in, and pop in the microwave for three minutes. Voila! You have chewy, nutty, nutritious brown rice ready to build a base for the rest of your meal. Each packet contains two servings, so it’s perfectly portioned for dinner with my fiancé, or enough for me to have leftovers for lunch.
Usually I add to the rice a can of drained black beans, a bag of cooked frozen veggies, and a jar of spicy salsa for a complete meal that takes less than five minutes to put together! I always make sure my meals are well-rounded with a combination of whole grains (the brown rice), protein (the beans), and veggies, and this fits the bill. You can alter it however you’d like:
• Try the rice with marinara sauce, peas, and grilled chicken
• Roll the rice, beans and salsa into a burrito and have veggies on the side
• Stir fry veggies and tofu in teriyaki sauce and serve over a bed of brown rice
• Add to soup to stretch your meal
I realize it’s relatively simple to boil water and cook rice, or even easier – toss water and rice into my amazing rice cooker. But both of these methods take longer than three minutes. When I’m in a real pinch, I turn to Trader Joe’s Frozen Brown Rice every time. It’s a “fast food” I can count on that’s good for me too.
What’s your favorite “fast food” that you rely on when you’re rushed?
Janel Ovrut MS RD LDN is a Boston-based dietitian who enjoys helping others reach their nutrition goals, one bite at a time. Janel shares her culinary adventures in her blog Eat Well with Janel and loves to tweet @DietitianJanel.