Practicing Food Safety for Seniors

Having a balanced diet with a variety of foods keeps us strong and healthy, but some of them require extra care to prepare. Pay attention to these foods that are more likely to cause contamination, food poisoning, or illness:

• Eggs
• Fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens
• Meat, such as beef and pork
• Milk
• Poultry, such as chicken, duck, and turkey
• Seafood and raw shellfish, including clams, fish, mussels, oysters, and shrimp

Practice Food Safety

As you prepare meals, make sure to follow these tips:

1. Wash Up: Germs are all around us in our food and kitchen. Wash your hands with soap and water when preparing and handling everything you touch, whether in the kitchen or the bathroom. Clean your food and any surfaces, utensils, and washcloths you use.
2. Separate: There are some foods you don’t want to cross-contaminate with others when preparing your meal. Use separate cutting boards, utensils, and plates for food that won’t be cooked before eating and raw foods such as meat, poultry, and seafood.
3. Cook to Temperature: Use a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of your food is high enough to kill germs. Keep your food hot after cooking while you enjoy a potluck or gathering with a chafing dish, slow cooker, or warming tray.
4. Refrigerate: While freezing your food doesn’t kill germs, it keeps the food safe and helps it last until you’re ready to cook. The refrigerator is best for perishable food and food you want to marinate or thaw instead of letting it sit on the counter.

Stay Prepared for Emergencies

In the event you become ill or contract food poisoning after a meal, please adhere to the following:

• Contact your healthcare provider immediately.
• Label the potentially contaminated food and place it in the freezer for later inspection.
• List out details such as the specific food you ate, time eaten, when symptoms occurred, and what symptoms you experienced.
• If your illness occurs after eating at a restaurant, call your local health department.
• If your illness occurs after eating USDA-inspected eggs, meat, or poultry, contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Want to make the most of your meals? Check out our free ebook, Nutritional Culinary Tips for Seniors!

“As we get older, we’re more conscious of healthy foods and nutrition, so we want to make sure our food is fresh. For those who want to be active and healthy, we want to be conscious of that. We notice these trends of wanting to be healthier and not just eating comfort foods. We want to provide options prepared here instead of packaged orders. Residents are very active with social issues like being healthy and environmentally friendly, and LEC provides the funds to make these changes that’s better for the environment and makes the residents happy.”

– Kevin R., Wesley Ridge chef

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.