Shopping can be stressful. That stress, however, can be exacerbated as many readjust to the new normal that is shopping during a pandemic coupled with the summer heat. Now more than ever, getting the most out of your groceries isn’t just about getting a bang for your buck. It’s about making sure the quality of your food from the supermarket to your home doesn’t change. To help you ensure and maintain the quality of your food, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind on your next grocery store run.
Food Poisoning and Temperature Control
According to Foodsaftey.gov, 1 in 6 Americans will become ill from food poisoning. The majority of those illnesses are linked to poor temperature control during transport. This could lead to the spread of bacteria and cross-contamination if that item comes into contact with your other food items. This can result in hospitalization and, in rare cases, death.
Scheduling
If you are someone who likes to run all of their errands in one day, you might find that your routine grocery run is usually scheduled at the beginning or end of the day. Did you know that it is actually better to shop for groceries when home is your next/final destination? This will limit the amount of time your food is exposed to hot weather. This can also be ideal if you shop far away from home, as you should avoid making extra stops, especially when on foot.
Keep Food Cold During Transport
This can go without saying. However, it shouldn’t. Maintaining the temperature of your food while in transit to your home is very important. Doing simple things like using ice packs or frozen water bottles when transporting your groceries will maintain a safe temperature for your food, specifically meat, poultry, and fish. Packing cold items together can also reduce the risk of extreme shifts in temperature while food is in transport. And if you can, avoid grocery shopping during heatwaves.
Buy In Bulk
Purchasing frozen food in bulk can not only save you time in the long run, but it can also reduce the amount of time you spend outside with your perishables as you will make fewer shopping trips to purchase food, limiting the opportunity for exposure to inadequate temperature control. This can only work if the temperature of your groceries are exposed to as little heat as possible during transit. So consider the scheduling of your grocery run, so you are outside in hot weather for the shortest amount of time.
Clean Your Fridge Often
You’re probably wondering what this has to do with making sure your food doesn’t go bad. However, not cleaning your fridge can result in some unexpected consequences when it comes to maintaining good temperature control of your food. Perishables should be stored in the back of the refrigerator where it is the coldest, while other foods such as frozen items, meat, and fish, should be stored in the freezer if there are no plans on consuming them in the near future. This means maintaining a clean fridge is quite essential. Especially if you have been outside for a while with your food. You want to make sure to put your food away in the fridge/freezer as soon as you get home.
Our Offerings
If you need assistance with understanding how to make or locate healthier food options for yourself or your family, you can book one of our food tours, where you will be guided through different food options and how to locate better quality food in food deserted areas and nutritional coaching. Additionally, we offer a wide selection of experience packages tailored to your needs, from romantic experiences through food with your partner to friendly gatherings and activities that everyone can participate in. Our holistic approach to health is designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and know-how needed to heal themselves from within.
