How should I choose canned fruits and vegetables?

Not all canned fruits and veggies are created equal. In this video, "Hungry Girl" author Lisa Lillien talks about how to tell the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly.

To trim calories, opt for fruits packed in their own juice, rather than heavy syrups. If you watch your sodium intake, choose veggies canned without added salt. If you already have canned veggies with added salt in your pantry, simply drain the packing liquid through a colander and rinse the vegetable under cold water for around two minutes.

There are several benefits to choosing canned foods. Canned foods often are less expensive than their fresh counterpart, are not seasonal-so they can be purchased year round and may contain more vitamins and minerals because they are canned straight from harvest which will preserve the nutrients. If you purchase canned vegetables, your best choice is canned no added salt versions. Canned vegetables often contain high amounts of sodium so purchasing those with no added salt, helps cut down on your sodium intake. Often, side by side they will be the same price as regular canned foods. If purchasing canned fruit, choose canned fruit that is packed in its own juice or in a fruit juice to cut down on added sugars from heavy syrup.