7 Simple Food Safety Tips
Food Safety Tips for You!
Grow Your Own
I grow a garden, and my husband and I started it last year after moving to Texas. We had to learn about when and what to plant for the area, but it was fun. We made some mistakes, but as I look out the window this year, we've got quite a crop. We planted some of our favorite vegetables including ones that I can easily store for the winter as well as herbs for cooking. This is an affordable way to provide safe food for yourself and your family. We even have a bin to collect scraps to make our own compost. This sounded really extreme for us to begin
with, but it is really simple. We purchased good soil to make our raised beds, and can say that our garden treats
are organic! You can start small, and you won't regret it.
Shop WiselyTry to purchase local, seasonal and organic foods. Many places have local farmer's markets. Ask where the fruits and vegetables were grown and if they were grown organically. If a food is out of season for where you live when you see it at the grocery store, you can bet that it had to come quite a distance to reach you.
Clean and Cook with Safety in MindWell, I like to cut corners as much as anybody else, however proper cleaning and handling of food is not an area to slack off on.
7 Food Safety Tips
1. Store meats in a leak proof container or bag so that the liquids won't contaminate your other food.
2. I use a separate meat and vegetable cutting board. My knife was kind of expensive, so I don't have two, but I wash it thoroughly between use with meat and veggies.
3. Did I mention how important it is to wash your hands? Ah! This is a key Food Safety Tip. If you use a dish towel to dry your hands, careful that it is maintained clean. If you accidentally use it to wipe away any food droppings (especially meat) it isn't clean anymore. Keep some paper towels nearby for meat spills. I don't like to use throw-away things much, but on occasion it is worth it. See what works for you, but remember to avoid contamination.
4. Wash fruits and vegetables before using.
5. Use warm soapy water to wash your cutting boards and
utensils.
6. Do you sometimes wonder if your meat is cooked properly-not too well done and not too rare? Invest in a digital thermometer tip so you'll know. They usually have little guides to tell you the 'done temp' of foods like hamburger (160 degrees F).
7. See something you don't like? Speak up! Some bad things have happened and people have been hurt by unsafe practices on very big scales. Watch what happens at the local grocer, and if you see something that isn't right, make your voice heard.
Yes, our food really gets around! Imported meat, poultry and eggs and all organic foods are overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over $466 bilion dollars in domestic and imported processed foods, fruits, seafood, grains and vegetables as well as medications and vaccines are overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I don't need to tell you that this is a huge job! How much do you know about what goes on in other countries? So, we must all do our job, too, when it comes to food safety. You can learn more food safety tips from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. There are a lot of things you can do, too!
Food Safety Tips and More! Learn to Make Really Healthy Choices!
Happy Eating!
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