Food – Basic
Introduction to Food and Nutrition
Nowadays, it is important to start thinking and learning about the different factors that can affect our health and it is important that we start to understand some of the implications of these:
Our eating culture
In our society it is commonplace to eat “on the run” and it is convenient to grab snacks and meals that are high in fats, sugars and salt. It is so easy to eat more calories than we use up so it is essential that we are aware of the risks of becoming overweight which will inevitably lead to obesity putting our health and well-being at risk.
More and more people are eating a vegetarian or vegan diet. It is important to remember that a balanced diet is still vital to make sure that our bodies take on board all the nutrients it needs. Alternative sources of protein and iron are particularly important to ensure that we remain healthy.
Eating a balanced diet
Eating a balanced diet is essential to maintain good health. This means eating a balance of carbohydrates, fat, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
By eating a range of different foods we can make sure that we get all the nourishment that we need. The different foods that we need to make up a healthy, well-balanced diet are:
Food labels can also help us to ensure that we have a healthy diet. There is certain legal information that a food label must contain to protect us from claims that are false or misleading.
Ensuring good food hygiene
It is not only eating habits that can affect our health, but also the way in which we store and prepare food. Poor food hygiene can cause serious illness and can sometimes lead to death. It is essential that hygiene guidelines are followed to ensure that food is prepared as hygienically as possible. Simple measures such as hand washing and making sure that food preparation areas are cleaned thoroughly can help to prevent illness.
Other ways to ensure that the food we eat is safe is to eliminate cross contamination where harmful bacteria are transferred from cooked to raw foods. This can happen by using the same utensils for different tasks for example, a knife is used to cut raw meat, the same knife is used to test a sausage on the barbecue and then to chop salad.
It is also important to think about safe food storage. Keeping food at the correct temperature in the refrigerator slows down the growth of bacteria. But placing meat in a position where it can drip or come into contact with other foods could result in food poisoning. The foodlink website has more detailed information on:
Durability Indications on Foods
Foods must be stored according to instructions for indicator dates to be valid. If foods are suitable for freezing then their life can be extended accordingly, however, it is essential that any storage or preparation instructions given on the packaging are followed.
Best before dates are intended to show quality rather than safety therefore food that has past its best before date is unlikely to be a risk to health, however, texture and flavour may be affected. Eggs that have exceeded their best before date should not be eaten as they may contain salmonella bacteria which may reach harmful proportions after this date.
Use by dates are given on foods that could be harmful if consumed after the specified date. These products are prepared ready-meals, meats, fish and dairy products that will go off very quickly. Foods that have past their use by date should not be consumed as they could pose serious risks to health.
Display until and Sell by dates are used by retailers to aid stock control. The relevant dates from a consumer's point of view are the best before and use by dates.