Tag Archives: Safety

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Are Your Leftovers Haunting You?

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Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. However, the leftovers haven’t! If you’re fridge is like mine, it is still filled, from top to bottom, with enough leftover food to “feed the multitudes”. So, the question today is what to do with those leftover foods. Here are a few ideas that I am going to try out this year to make the most of my leftover Thanksgiving feast!

  1. Mix them in to new recipes: You know how much you love all of your traditional Thanksgiving dishes. However, you may not know exactly how great they taste when certain ones are mixed together, or turned in to new dishes altogether; like this popular Turkey Casserole. (Be sure to use leftover sides and fat-free options when possible)
  2. Have a party: I know you just finished ushering chatty Aunt Cathy out the front door after your families Thanksgiving meal. But, having a few of your closest friends over to help you eat some of your leftovers is a great way to make sure that you don’t feel the need to empty the refrigerator all by yourself!
  3. Find a needy family: If you have an entire meal leftover, you may want to find a family in your area that wasn’t able to enjoy a traditional holiday meal! If you’re not exactly sure where to find a family, start with your community center or a local church. They may be able to point you in the right direction. Knowing you could provide something so basic for a family in need is so rewarding!
  4.  Throw them away: This is our most important tip! November 29th is Throw Away Your Leftovers Day. By this point, many of your favorite foods will begin growing things you NEVER want to put in your body! Keep an eye out for our blog next week! We’ll be focusing on food safety and why it is so important to throw away your leftovers as they expire.

What do you do with your leftover Thanksgiving foods? We would love to hear your tips! Feel free to share on the blog, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter. 

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Drinking Safely! Yep, it’s Possible!

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It’s July and 100⁰+ outside! Can you picture it… floating on a raft in the pool, sipping on an icy Piña Colada topped with fresh pineapple and cherries! It sounds great, doesn’t it? Everything is great in moderation. But, it’s important to remember that the things that we drink impact our bodies as well; and I’m talking about more than just the size of our waistline. To make it easy, we have put together a list of the top 3 points to remember when enjoying some ‘fun in the sun’, especially when alcoholic beverages are involved.

1.       Temperature:  The outside temperature plays a big role in how our bodies react to the alcohol that we consume. The amount that you may be able to ‘normally’ consume inside at a comfortable temperature may be drastically different than the amount you should consume in excessive heat.

2.       Impaired Judgment: Relaxing by the pool tends to make us all a little less cautious than we usually would be. So, when we start drinking alcoholic beverages, it is not uncommon for our judgment to become impaired. There are many dangers at the pool including hard surfaces, as well as the risk of drowning in the water. These risks are very real and we need to have a healthy respect for them.

3.       Get Plenty of Water: Both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, causing them to contribute to dehydration. Combined with excessive heat, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble very quickly. So, it is very important to drink at least 8 oz. of water every hour to stay hydrated.

Summer is a great time to have lots of fun. But, it’s still important to remember to be responsible when enjoying poolside time with family and friends. As always, if you have more specific questions regarding health and nutrition education, visit our website at www.ncescatalog.com, call us at 800.NCES.BOOKS or chat live with our dietitian here.

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Six Picks: The Top 6 Things You Can Do For Food Safety

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  1. Wash, wash, wash. Whether it’s your hands, your dishes, or your countertops, washing goes a long way towards keeping your kitchen safe.
  2. Keep raw foods away from other foods. Not only should you make sure all your raw foods are away from your cooked foods, but try not to share utensils between those two groups, either wash things like pots and pans between uses, or have designated utensils. For instance, maybe instead of using the same cloth towel to clean up after your foods, use paper towels for raw foods to prevent bacteria from spreading.
  3. Pick up cold foods last. When grocery shopping, save the frozen and cold food aisles for last. This gives you the longest amount of time to ensure that your foods stay in the safe temperature ranges before you can store them properly at home.
  4. Keep the good cans. Don’t buy canned goods with dents or bulges in them. Those nooks and crannies are safe-havens for bacteria to grow and multiply.
  5. Remember the Three C’s. When transporting food, keep your food clean, cold and covered whenever possible. When foods are left out in temperatures over 90°F for an hour or more, you can be sure bacteria has already started to grow.
  6. Be safe when dining out. Make sure the utensils and plates are clean. Inspect the plates for crack and crevices if necessary. Those cracks can hide bacteria in them.