Ensuring that a child eats safe food is easy when they are at home. Unfortunately, the time they spend at home begins to reduce when they start schooling. If you are like other parents, you must be concerned about what your eats when he or she is away from them. This concern drives many parents to pack lunch or snacks for their children to bring to schools because keeping children safe is a priority. Parents who want to ensure their children eat lunch that is safe everyday need to start by instilling safe habits in their children. Though this might sound like a challenge, there are simple ways to go about it and ensure that kids enjoy clean, safe food away from home. Here are some basic tips for food safety for preschoolers:
How to ensure your kid eats safe food everyday
Use an insulated bag to pack lunch
Rather than using the normal brown paper disposable bag, go for an insulated lunch bag that is well designed to keep your child’s food in temperatures that are safe. Investing in such a bag is worthwhile because it can be reused and is also safer for the environment. Remember, it is always better to go for a lunch bag that is made from non-toxic material.
Use kid-friendly water bottles
When packing water for your child, consider using a reusable water bottle that is safe, easy to use and non-toxic. Fill the water bottle in the evening and let it stay in the freezer all night. A cold water bottle can be a great replacement for an ice pack. So instead of using frozen ice packs to create a cool environment for your kid’s lunch, a cold water bottle will do the trick. Also, your child’s water will be refreshing by the time he or she is going for lunch.
Always clean hands and fruits before packing
Before packing lunch for your child, clean your hands with soapy, warm water for at least 2 seconds. Be sure to clean your working area as well and dry it up. Also, you’re your child develop a habit of washing hands before and after feeding. When packing vegetables and fruits for your child, ensure that you wash them thoroughly even if they’ll be peeled before being eaten. This is important because germs and pesticides on the surface of fruits or vegetables can contaminate the other food you pack in a lunch bag.
Pack hot foods in a thermos
Where you want your child to carry hot food, it is best to pack it in a thermos. Prior to putting the food in the thermos, fill it with boiling water and leave it for a few minutes. This will help raise the temperature in the flask.
Clean the lunch bag after use
Each evening, clean the lunch bag and the lunch box, even when they don’t appear to be dirty. By doing this, you remove germs that cannot be seen. Also, train your child to throw away leftovers or food scraps when they are done eating. When left in the bag for long, these become breeding areas for bacteria.
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