Tips to keep your holiday feasting fun and healthy.

• Follow food safety guidelines  when preparing food for the holidays. Bacteria are often present in raw food. It is therefore important to wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly and fully cook meat and poultry.
• Don’t taste food such as raw egg and other foods that should be cooked before eating.
• If you have to taste food, you have to be sure to wash the spoon well before putting it back in the food.
• Never thaw meat on a counter top. Always thaw it in a refrigerator.
• Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate in the refrigerator and use separate utensils when preparing them.
• Keep hot foods and liquids away from the edge of the counters and tables where they can be easily knocked over by kids.It is important to make sure young kids cannot access microwave ovens. Turn  pot handles towards the side or back of the stove.
• Food that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
• Clean up immediately after a holiday party. Children can choke when they come into contact with left over foods. They can also come into contact with alcohol or tobacco.