Ice Age

March is here, and while spring and warm weather is on most people's minds, the frozen food industry is focused on the cold; March is National Frozen Food Month!

In 1984, Congress declared March 6 "Frozen Food Day" by Senate Joint Resolution 193, and authorized and requested President Reagan issue a proclamation upon the occasion. More recently, the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association made a commitment to frozen food companies and manufacturers to promote frozen foods during the month of March and increase year-round sales by:

• Educating consumers on the attributes, benefits, and value in frozen foods
  
• Encouraging family mealtime and healthy lifestyles by providing recipes and solutions for every meal occasion
  
• Promoting convenience, quality, variety, and taste of frozen foods
  
• Promoting new and innovative products within the industry

In 2010, Americans spent $56 billion on frozen food, up $13 billion since 2005. Today, 23 percent of home dinners are frozen entrées. With ever-growing profit, the industry has responded to consumer demand, developing better manufacturing processes, offering more ethnic choices, and creating healthier options.

While the freezer is certainly a hero this month, so is Clarence Birdseye, who is credited with inventing the flash-freeze method for foods in 1924 that we still use today. Birdseye's quick-freezing process led to the creation of 168 patents that included not only the freezing technique, but also packaging and related innovations. The process also led to the creation of Birds Eye, the Pinnacle Foods-owned maker of vegetables and frozen meals.

When you're eating a frozen waffle for breakfast, enjoying a frozen meal for lunch, or microwaving a frozen pizza for dinner this month, say thanks to frozen foods! Throughout March, learn more about the frozen food industry from the American Frozen Food Institute and read all about freezing and food safety.

Leave a comment and tell me: What are your favorite frozen foods?

Find it in Your Grocer's Freezer

These days, dining out or eating in can be one in the same. Numerous restaurants have recreated their entrées and side dishes, and instead of going into your favorite eatery, all you have to do is head to the supermarket.

T.G.I. Friday's is just one place that has made it easier than ever to eat tasty appetizers at home. While their frozen foods like potato skins, chicken quesadilla rolls, and spinach, cheese, and artichoke dip are available in your grocer's freezer, they have also extended their selections to include snack chips, skillet meals, dips, beverage blenders, and non-alcoholic mixers.

Friday's is not the only one, however, to replicate restaurant meals. Thanks to ConAgra Foods, Marie Callender's is serving up an extensive line of its comfort food. Complete frozen meals like meatloaf and gravy, lasagna, and pot pies are on hand at the grocery store, even if you don't have a Marie Callender's in your neighborhood. The restaurant also directly sells its fruit and cream pies, as well as cobblers online, and yes...in your grocer's freezer.

Similar to Marie Callender's, Claim Jumper is a restaurant chain with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. Their hardy servings include entrées like country fried chicken, Salisbury steak, and pot roast. They are also known for their acclaimed cobblers and pies. Even though the eatery is based on the West Coast, with the aid of your neighborhood supermarket, a gracious helping from Claim Jumper is never far away; it's right in your grocer's freezer.

In the mood for pizza? Save time and money by picking up an authentic California Pizza Kitchen pizza in – you guessed it – your grocer's freezer. CPK offers a number of flavors and styles such as crispy thin crust garlic chicken and self-rising Hawaiian recipe.

Side dishes, too, have been made easy with assistance from restaurateur Bob Evans. Products like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, stuffing, and glazed apples can be a part of your at-home meal; just pick up these trimmings the next time you're out grocery shopping.

Even though there is a Starbucks on every corner, if you find yourself hankering for a sweet treat, the coffee shop has you covered when you're at home. Store shelves are lined with bagged Starbucks coffee by the pound, bottled Frappuccino drinks, and its most recent retail addition, ice cream.

Jamba Juice has also started to sell smoothie mixes for fans to make and consume at home. The only thing you need to do is head to your grocer's freezer.

What do you think about these restaurants and shops offering their products at the grocery store? Leave a message if you're a fan of the convenience or tell me what other items you'd like to see lining the shelves.