Food Safety: How to Keep Your Food Safe and Healthy

Hi there, food lovers! It’s essential to know how to keep your meals safe and delicious. As we age, the risk for foodbourne illness increases, due to various reason. Whether you’re at the grocery store, at home, or reheating leftovers, you need to be careful with your food. In this post, you’ll learn some easy food safety tips and how to keep your food safe and healthy.

Food Safety at the Grocery Store

How to Pick Perishable Foods:

At the grocery store, choose fruits and veggies that look fresh and not too old. Check for any bruises or damage on them. Check the packaging, seals, and the outside of cans for any dents or bulging of the can.

Check Dates:

Look at the dates on food packages to make sure they’re still good to eat. If something is past its date or looks funny, it’s best not to buy it.

Keep Raw and Cooked Foods Separate:

Raw foods, like meat and fish, can have germs that make us sick. Use separate bags or containers to keep them away from ready-to-eat foods like fruits and veggies. Add food from coolers or freezers to your cart last.

Food Safety at Home

Hand Hygiene and Cleaning Surfaces

When you cook, frequently wash your hands with soap and water. Clean the kitchen surfaces, like cutting boards and countertops, too. This helps prevent germs from getting into our food.

Use Food Thermometers:

When cooking meat, poultry, or fish, use a food thermometer to make sure they’re fully cooked. It kills any harmful germs, and you won’t get sick. Health Canada has a handy guide on what the internal temperature of various types of meats should be, here.

Store Food Safely:

Prioritize unpacking frozen and refrigerated foods and raw meats first when you get home from the grocery store. Put perishable foods like meat and dairy in the fridge to keep them fresh. This way, they won’t go bad quickly, and you can enjoy them longer.

Reheating Food Safely

Heating Food Evenly

When reheating leftovers, make sure to heat them evenly. Use the microwave or stove, and stir the food well to avoid cold spots.

Check the Temperature:

Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of reheated food. It should reach 165°F (74°C) to kill any bacteria that might have grown between cooking your food and the cooling process in the fridge/freezer.

By following these simple food safety tips at the grocery store, at home, and when reheating food, you can enjoy delicious and safe meals every day. Making sure to pick quality foods, keeping your cooking area clean, and using food thermometers to cook your meals perfectly are all great steps in keeping you safe. With these practices, you can keep yourself healthy and happy while savoring nutritious foods!

Where can I find additional nutritional support for my loved one?

If you would like a dietitian to help you learn more about food safety and how to make food safe and healthy, I am happy to help! I offer an Living in Place Blueprint for seniors and caregivers, which includes an in-depth assessment of a nutrition risk screening, a nutrition-focused physical exam, a full diet analysis, nutrition recommendations, education, and goal setting. A swallowing assessment can be part of this program as well. The focus will be on how best to support your loved one to stay in their home and lead a healthier, happier life.

Read more about my services here: 1:1 Coaching

If you would like to book your free 15-minute discovery call with me, you can do so here.

Book Your Free 15-Minute Discovery Call

And remember to check with your insurance provider to see if you are covered for Registered Dietitian Services through your plan or health spending account. Dietitian services are also tax deductible!