Summer is upon us, bringing with it the sunshine and late afternoon thunderstorms Florida is famous for. And of course, the grill. The summer holidays are full of friends, family, and open flame, charring meats, vegetables and even fruit (yes, fruit) to smoky perfection. But these gatherings may bring some stress to your holiday, so to help ensure the thunderclouds stay in the late-afternoon sky (and not hanging over your head), NG is here to help with a few tips and tricks to food safety, managing balance and reducing stress so you can get down to business – and enjoy your day off!
Food Safety
- Clean that grill!! Whether it’s the grill behind your house or one down at the park, be sure to scrub it with warm soapy water before each use
- Take a spare plate! When taking meats to your grill, make sure to take a clean plate to transfer the meat to after cooking. Never reuse a plate that previously held raw meat. The same goes for cutting boards, counters and knives/utensils. Be sure to wash anything that comes into contact with raw meat to help prevent cross contamination. Including your hands!
- Cook it through! Use a thermometer to check for internal temperatures.
- Steak – 145°
- Ground meat (including burgers) – 160°
- Chicken - 165°
- Keep an eye on that clock! Be sure to keep hot foods hot to prevent contamination with potential pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses. After two hours, be sure to cover, label (and date) and refrigerate all leftovers. Cooked foods can be frozen for up to 2 months (watch for freezer burn) or left in the fridge for 2-3 days. When you decide to reheat, make sure that temperature reaches 165°.
- Chilled favorites, such as potato salad or spinach dip, can be kept and displayed on ice. This will help them stay cool and safe at your parties. You can also switch out items every hour to ensure that they get plenty of time in the fridge to cool down.
Managing Balance
- With friends and family often comes food. Take a plate to the buffet table to get all your food together. Not only will this help you choose portions to help you meet your needs, it can also give you a clear idea of what (and how much) you are eating.
- Be sure to get some of those fruits and veggies on your plate, too! Grilled peaches and watermelon are popular this time of year, and tossing peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions on skewers can add a pop of flavor to your favorite grilled meat.
- Aunt Betty’s apple pie and a blueberry crumb cake? Remember, there’s always tomorrow! Any leftovers can be saved (see above for tips!) and used at a later meal. It’s a great way to bring the spirit and camaraderie of the 4th to your entire week!
Managing Self
- Gatherings can sometimes be stressful. Be sure to take time for yourself. If you need a breather from the party, take a walk or step back to a quiet place to gather yourself or allow for a bit of downtime on an otherwise hectic holiday.
- Balance your time visiting family and friends with downtime to help keep yourself centered. Using weekends and holidays to spend time with loved ones can be great fun! Make sure you take care of yourself in-between to really get the most out of your holidays.
Do you have a favorite marinade or recipe you'd like to share? Have a question you’d like answered? Have another grilling/party idea? Like us on Facebook and join the conversation!
Happy Grilling!
- Les, MS RD LD
No comments:
Post a Comment