Marshalee Valentine

Thursday, October 17, 2019

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Observing a healthy diet does not mean that your food is safe for consumption. As a matter of fact, you should ensure that food safety is embedded in the diet programme you choose to follow. Eating healthy does not just involve watching calories and nutrients; it also requires that the food consumed is safe. There are times, however, when the two healthy food and safe food can be conflicting as there are practices in living a healthy lifestyle, such as raw food consumption, that may be detrimental to actual health and safety.

1. For those on a complete raw food diet, ensure that you source your produce from reputable suppliers. It is understandable that eating healthy requires that food isn't fried or overcooked but that healthy cooking methods such as steaming, broiling, grilling and roasting are used to prepare meals. Also consider the following:

Can you go on a raw food diet given your age and current health status? Consult with your doctor or dietician to determine this.

Try to at least use one of the above-mentioned cooking methods or even a dehydrator when preparing foods that may contain bacteria and parasites such as fish, eggs. Additionally, you want to be careful when consuming raw sprouts as bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella can thrive in the warm, humid environment in which sprouts are grown.

If you consume milk, ensure that it is not raw, meaning unpasteurised. Raw milk may contain Mycobacteria bovis (M bovis), which can cause non-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Cassava and kidney beans may contain toxins, so be careful to follow preparation instructions to avoid illnesses. Cooking kills some toxins, bacteria, and harmful compounds in these food.

2. Remember to always store all your perishable fruits in the refrigerator and never pack the refrigerator tight you must allow for air circulation to keep the food cool and fresher for longer. You need to also check for spoilage and remove any fruit or vegetable from storage that has evidence of spoilage or mould.

3. Ensure your meal prep containers and utensils are kept clean and stored in clean areas. Additionally, because you will be spending more time preparing meals, ensure all your food contact surfaces (counters, cutting boards, utensils) are kept clean and sanitised.

4. Always wash your fresh fruits and veggies with lukewarm water. Buy them from a reputable supplier.

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Read more:
Four Ways To Ensure Healthy Eating Is Safe - Jamaica Observer