is fresh always the best option ?

That is a loaded question. Fresh foods fried in lard are not healthier than frozen ones that are not. Same with scratch meals loaded with fat and carbs as opposed to ready meals high in protein and that have lots of veg. If you aren't trying to make it a trick question, though, I'd say fresh foods are better than frozen and scratch meals are better than ready made ones, assuming one is using their common sense when preparing said meals.

fresh is still the best option although not eaten fresh (okay) cause you have to worry about Salmonella and all. But there was this article I read before in TIME magazine where it explains that food (all) are not necessarily clean regardless - Fresh, frozen, processed, you name it. Everything have their secrets. Chicken, for example is packed with hormones that can also be harmful to the human body in the long run.