Protect Your Charge From A Poorly Packed Lunch

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], about one in six Americans suffers from food poisoning each year. On average, this can result in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 fatalities. Because many of these illnesses occur when food is poorly packaged and maintained, parents and caregivers are urged to pay close attention when preparing lunch for kids.

            If packing a lunch that contains perishable items [lunch meats, eggs, yogurts, refrigerated puddings, etc.], be sure to use freezer packs. This will allow the food to remain cool, disabling the spread of bacteria on food. Another alternative to freezer packs could be frozen juice boxes. By freezing the juice boxes the night before, they become solid enough to keep the food cool and they will have defrosted by lunchtime.

            Aside from using different “cooling” options, be sure that lunches are packed in insulated lunch boxes. This will help maintain the original temperature for a longer duration. While paper lunch bags are common, perishable food items could be dangerous to eat by lunchtime when packed in a non-insulated bag. If packing hot foods, use an insulated container to maintain the temperature. To achieve better results, allow boiling water to sit in the container for a few minutes prior to filling it with food. Don’t forget to remind kids to leave all lids on food until lunchtime to ensure that no outside germs or bacteria sneak into the containers.

            After enjoying a great lunch, remind kids to throw away all leftover food, including plastic bags and disposable containers. Do not reuse any packaging aside from tupperware that will be cleaned when kids arrive home. Bacteria or other foodborne illnesses could linger from the time kids eat lunch to the time their lunchbox gets unpacked. After ensuring that proper protocols are met for a safe lunch, remember to make sure the lunch is healthy for growing kids!

Idea from: HealthDay