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Friday, March 29, 2024

Health officials offer cool food choices for summertime

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In the midst of this heat wave, Indianapolis residents are doing everything they can to stay cool. Heating up the house to cook a meal is the last thing most individuals want to consider.

The Marion County Public Health Department Nutrition Services staff has several suggestions to help combat the heat and still ensure nutrition and hydration remain part of our daily eating. Above all else, drinking plenty of water is important to stay hydrated. Avoiding alcohol and drinks with caffeine is also advised.

Food suggestions include:

ā€¢ Tuna, egg, chickenĀ or pasta salads

ā€¢ Cold soups and gazpachos

ā€¢ Cheese plate with fruit and crackers

ā€¢Ā Sandwiches and wraps

ā€¢Ā Frozen grapes

ā€¢Ā Frozen yogurt

ā€¢Ā Popsicles made with crushed fruit and juice

ā€¢Ā Rotisserie chicken (already cooked)

ā€¢Ā Smoothies with yogurt, juice and frozen fruit

ā€¢Ā Sherbet

ā€¢Ā Bean dips

ā€¢Ā Use a slow cooker that won’t heat up the kitchen like the oven or stove will

The health department also suggests foods like watermelon, cucumbers, cantaloupe, squashes, apples and oranges that have a high water content. Also, eating small meals more frequently may be an alternative.

Hot Days Can Have Impact on Food Safety

Marion County Public Health Department Food and Consumer Safety inspectors are continuing to work with licensed food handlers to ensure the hot summer days we are experiencing are not having an impact on the safe preparation and storage of food served to the public.

Health inspectors want to be certain restaurant and food service hood and ventilation systems are working properly and ensuring coolers and freezers are maintaining proper temperatures. Equipment not working properly can be cited and taken out of service until repaired.

Power outages associated with heat waves can also impact safe food storage. If a cooler or freezer has not been able to maintain the proper temperature for more than four hours, the products need to be discarded.

Outdoor food vendors are also licensed and inspected by the Marion County Public Health Department. These vendors also must maintain the proper hot or cold food temperatures. If these temperatures are not maintained the food products are discarded.

For those planning a picnic or taking food outdoors with them, certain precautions need to be taken.

The consumer guidelines for keeping food safe in the summer at outdoor events is to never leave food out of temperature control for more than an hour if temperatures are above 90 degrees.Ā  Consumers should also use an insulated cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep the food at 41Ā° or below.Ā 

Food should beĀ packedĀ right from the refrigerator into the cooler immediately before leaving home.Ā Ā During transport,Ā the cooler should be kept in the air conditioned vehicle not the trunk.Ā  Once at the picnic or event, the cooler should be keptĀ out of the sun.Ā Ā Beverages should be packed in one cooler and perishables in another coolerĀ while avoiding opening the cooler’s lid (which lets cold air out and warm air in).

Ā Any food (hot or cold) that is left out of temperature control for more than an hour in the summer heat should be discarded.

As always, consistent and thorough hand washing is critical when handling food.

For more information, contact the Marion County Public Health Department at 221-2200.

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