Play It Safe: 5 Steps for Handling Eggs

You parents have probably warned you about food-borne illness since you were just a child, but how much do you really know about handling raw eggs? These simple steps will teach you how to safely prepare and serve eggs.

  1. Purchase eggs in good quality. Only buy eggs from a refrigerated case, and open the carton to make sure that none of the eggs are cracked. Refrigerate them as soon as you get home.
  2. Know their expiration date. As a general rule, eggs are only good for about three weeks. After that, you should throw them out and buy a new carton.
  3. Cook thoroughly. When cooking eggs, make sure that there are no runny parts before serving. Things like casseroles and baked goods should be cooked to at least 160° Fahrenheit to ensure that the eggs inside are safe to eat.
  4. Serve properly. All foods containing eggs should be eaten immediately after cooking. To serve a large party buffet-style, keep hot dishes hot by using a slow cooker or heated serving pan.
  5. Store safely. If you must refrigerate a dish with eggs, be sure to use it within three to four days and reheat to at least 160° before serving.

Playing It Safe with Eggs [FDA]
Eggs & Food Safety [Incredible!]
Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs [CDC]

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Learn More About Vegetables From These Facts

You know that vegetables are important for your health and well being, but there are a number of facts that many people don’t know about getting your daily greens. These helpful facts from the USDA will give you some insight into the world of vegetables.

Vegetables are organized into five subgroups.
Based on their nutritional content, vegetables are categorized as either dark green vegetables, starchy vegetables, red and orange vegetables, beans and peas, and other vegetables.

You can get your daily veggies from a variety of sources.
Fresh vegetables are the most obvious choice, but cooked, frozen, canned, dried/dehydrated, and 100% vegetable juices are also valid sources.

Eating the proper amount of vegetables can prevent certain diseases.
Getting enough vegetables can help to prevent heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and may decrease kidney stones and bone loss.

Half of your plate should be made up of veggies.
While the exact recommended daily intake varies from person to person, filling half of your plate with vegetables is a good general rule.

Vegetables that are easy to prepare will help you eat them more often.
Things like microwavable frozen veggies or bags of pre-made salad greens are good examples.

Tips to Help You Eat Vegetables [USDA]

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