5 Food Tips for Health and Safety
By Brandi Goodman
You may be celebrating Nutrition Month with new healthy recipes and keeping fruits and veggies on your regular menu. This is excellent practice for the months to come, as you should always maintain a healthy diet for your well-being. Just because you're choosing healthy foods, though, does not mean you're doing so in a safe way. Some health and safety tips should be kept in mind when it comes to your food.
Store Foods Separately
It's best to store different foods in separate containers. Putting them together could cause bacteria to easily spread from one type to the other. Each item should have its own container or bag -- especially when it comes to refrigerated produce and meat.
Rinse Your Fruits and Vegetables
Never eat a fruit or vegetable straight from the bag after you buy it. Pesticides are often used on plants that can be harmful if ingested. There's also the chance of bacteria and other contaminants being on the surface of your produce. Rinse them off under water so you can remove some of this bacteria and have a safer experience.
Cook Your Food to the Full Temperature
Each type of meat has its own set of rules when it comes to cooking time. You need to be sure you're fully cooking your meat to the recommended temperature so it's safe to consume. Failing to do so can mean consuming undercooked meat with the possibility of ingesting harmful bacteria. It's a common reason for food poisoning.
Check for Recalls
If you hear about a recall on the news or social media, don't just assume you're not affected. If you have that item in your home, check out the identification numbers and dates to see if they're a match. Eating recalled food is bound to end badly.
Put Your Food Away Promptly
Whether you just made a meal or you made a grocery purchase at the store, you need to be sure you're putting food away promptly. Letting food sit out for hours gives too many chances for bacteria to spread. You should have everything put away and properly contained within at least two hours. If it's an especially hot day, such as over 90 degrees, then that timeframe is reduced to just one hour.
Eating healthy doesn't only mean choosing nutritious foods. You also need to be sure you're following the proper safety procedures for cooking, storing, and handling your food so you don't get sick. Be safe and healthy with everything you eat so you can ensure it suits your stomach well.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Avon, Ind.