Chill out with food safety tips

LINCOLN, Neb. — Avoid foodborne illness this harvest season by freshening up your food safety awareness.

“One of the best ways to stay healthy through all seasons is to practice proper food safety,” said Tara Dunker, food, nutrition and health educator at Nebraska Extension, during a webinar hosted by AgriSafe. “The last thing you want is a foodborne illness during planting or harvest season.”

Dunker shared four things to keep in mind:

1. Clean — Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and water for 20 seconds. Sing the happy birthday song to yourself twice. Make sure food surfaces are clean and sanitary.

2. Separate — Keep meat in your cart or fridge separate from fresh produce.

3. Cook — Use a food thermometer to check internal temperatures of meat to kill any pathogens that could cause foodborne illness.

4. Chill — Keep food stored at the right temperature.

Learn more at https://food.unl.edu/foodinthefield.

Tips for packing healthy meals in the field:

• Use proper packing supplies, including insulated lunch bag or cooler, freezer pack if necessary, eating utensils, microwave-safe sealable dishware or re-sealable plastic bags.

• Wrap it up. Try using whole-grain tortillas or lettuce to change up your lunch routine.

• Think beyond a sandwich — soups, salads, pitas, pizzas and so forth.

• Pack things you want to eat. Lunch should be enjoyable.