It is important to make sure that the food you eat during pregnancy is safe. You can use these tips to make sure you safely  handle food you’re going to eat.

The best way to clean food

• Wash your hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds before and after handling food
• Wash all fruits and vegetables. If the skin cant  be cleaned, peel it off. This will help remove dirt and pesticides. After cleaning,  dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel
• Remove and throw away the outer leaves of leafy greens such as lettuce
• Cut away damaged areas of fruits and vegetables
• Wash utensils and cutting board with hot soapy water after each use . Avoid using cutting board made of wood. They hold more germs than the other types
• Clean all counter tops with hot soapy water after use

The best way to separate food

• Use one cutting board for fruits and vegetables and use another for raw meat, seafood and poultry
• During shopping , keep raw meat, poultry and seafood and their juices separate from other foods
• Store raw meat, poultry and seafood in containers so that their juices don’t get on other foods

The best way to cook food

• Use a food thermometer. This will help you cook food especially meat at a safe temperature .
• When using the microwave, cover the food. You should also stop cooking to stir the food and rotate the dish to ensure that the food is warm all the way through
• when reheating sauces, soups ad gravies,  bring them to boil

The best way to chill food

• Make sure the refrigerator is at 40 F or below and the freezer at 0 F or below.
• Refrigerate all fruits and vegetables that have been cut or peeled
• Refrigerate all foods within 2 hours after eating. When you are ready to eat left overs, eat them within 2 hours of taking them out of the refrigerator
• Thaw meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator , not in the sink or counter
• Don’t crowd the fridge. Makes it difficult to keep food cool and safe