Bon Voyage

Choose Healthy Food, Drive Safe, Be Merry

There is no vacation to eating healthy food just because of the fact that you are on a vacation to the beach, ballpark, campground or a long road trip. Remember these tips to help you stay healthy and happy on an expedition to your favorite place.

Stock Healthy Snacks
Keep healthy snacks such as whole-grain crackers, trail mix, raw or roasted nuts and fruits like bananas, pears, apples or boxed raisins handy.

Refrigerate Properly
Always remember to carry a cooler with abundant ice when you are packing perishable foods for your travel. The cooler temperature must be maintained at 40°F and it is advisable to place a refrigerator thermometer in the cooler to keep check of the temperature and replace ice as and when needed. To maintain the cold property of the cooler during summer, it is better to keep it inside the car instead of storing it in the over-heated trunk.

Before doing all this, sanitize the cooler with a bleach solution and wash all the containers with warm, soapy water.

Go Grilling
Grill your choicest veggie kabobs or burgers for tasty and healthy alternatives. Grilling meat is quite tricky as there are a few precautions to be taken to minimize food poisoning.

• Never leave frozen meat to warm up under the scorching sun. Safe options include defrosting in the refrigerator or microwave.
• Isolate ready-to-eat foods from raw meat and poultry by maintaining separate utensils and plates.
• Ensure that meat has reached a safe minimum internal temperature (ground meat 160°F; steaks 145°F and chicken 165°F, and let rest for 3 minutes) with the aid of the food thermometer.

Get an even better insight on safe cooking temperatures and techniques at the webpage www.firsteatright.com.

Chill Out
Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Incorporate flavor and taste to plain/chilled water by infusing strawberries, lemons, blueberries or lime into it.