Lately there seems to be a lot of name calling when it comes to food. Your friends or neighbors may claim they are trying to “eat clean” or say that they pick foods with “clean ingredients.”
I am also a fan of clean foods and clean eating, but my definition may be slightly different because it relates to food safety and not to a trendy diet, a particular product, ingredients (or lack of ) or a label.
Here’s my definition of “Clean Eating”:
1. Wash your hands before preparing or eating foods.
2. Store foods at the proper temperature.
3. Make sure you rinse fresh fruits and vegetables before eating and preparing them.
4. Cut and prepare foods on clean surfaces. Don’t cross contaminate surfaces by preparing raw, uncooked foods and cooked foods on the same cutting boards or counter tops. Be sure and clean and sanitize or change cutting boards.
5. Cook your food to the proper temperature and refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours.
For more information on keeping food safe: https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe.html
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian
facebook.com/LeahMcgrathDietitian
800-334-4936