It is important that you eat healthy during pregnancy. You should also make sure that the food you eat is safe  for you and your unborn child. These tips will help you ensure the food is safe to eat.

Keeping food safe during pregnancy

The best way to keep your food clean is :

• wash  your hands with soap and warm water at least 20 seconds before and after handling food
• wash all fruits and vegetables well using a scrub brush. If you cant get the skin off, peel it  off to help remove dirt and chemicals such as pesticides . Wash all fruits and vegetables even if the package says its already been washed.  Then dry with a clean towel
• cut away damaged sections of fruits and vegetables
• remove and throw away the outer leaves of green leafy vegetables like lettuce
• wash utensils and cutting boards with hot, soapy water after each use. Do not use cutting board made of wood. They can hold more germs that the other types
• clean the counter tops with hot , soapy water after preparing food

What is the best way to separate food ?

• use  one cutting board for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Use a different cutting board for fruits and vegetables
• keep raw meat, poultry and seafood and their juices  separate from other foods when shopping
• store  raw meat, poultry  and sea food in containers so that their juices do not get on other foods

What is the best way to cook food ?

• you need to get a food thermometer. This will help you cook food especially meat at a safe temperature. It may be difficult to tell if the food is cooked from the way it looks.
• when using a microwave, cover the food. Stop cooking to stir the food and rotate the dish  to make sure that the food warms all the way through
• when reheating sauces, soups and gravies, bring them to a rolling broil

When is the best way to chill food ?

• refrigerate all fruits and vegetables that have been cut or peeled
• the temperature of the refrigerator should be kept  at 40 F or below and the freezer at 0 F or below. If you’re not sure the temperature is correct, use an appliance thermometer to check.
• refrigerate all left overs  2 hours after eating. Use shallow containers so that the food cools quickly. When you are ready to use the left overs, eat them within 2 hours of taking them out of the refrigerator
• thaw meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator, not on the counter or in the sink
• it is hard to keep food safe and cool when the refrigerator is crowded