Nutrition Bites 2020 Vol. 7:0

Spring
In This Issue

Staying Safe – Proper Food Storage

Recipes and Nutrition Tips – Make-Your-Own Tacos

Physical Activity Tips – Limiting Screen Time

Food Access Resources in Massachusetts –  Feedingamerica.org and SNAP Benefits

Staying Safe

thermometer in refrigerator Did you know that illness-causing bacteria will grow within 2 hours in perishable foods unless refrigerated?

Remember these storage tips.

  • Keep the refrigerator temperature at 40° F (4° C) or below and the freezer temperature at 0° F (-18° C).
  • Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods as soon as you get home from the store.
  • Look for storage directions on food packaging labels. Many foods in addition to meats, vegetables, and dairy products need to be kept cold. If they are refrigerated in the store, they need to be refrigerated at home.
  • Some food items may only need to be refrigerated after they have been opened.
  • Leftovers should be stored covered in a clear container and labeled with the date the food was cooked. Large quantities of leftovers should be split into smaller containers and cooled in the refrigerator within 2 hours.
  • Harmful bacteria cannot be identified by looking at or smelling the food. Leftovers should be consumed within a few days or put into the freezer. Be sure to check your refrigerator on a regular basis and throw out unsafe food.
  • Always thaw or marinate foods in the refrigerator, never at room temperature where harmful bacteria can grow.

 

Recipe and Nutrition Tips

taco salad Are you looking for a healthier option for Taco Tuesday?

Put a new spin on the taco dinner with our Fiesta Taco Salad recipe and set up a make-your-own-taco filling station. Customize your taco creation by adding extra vegetables. Jalapeños will bring on the heat, and avocados add potassium and healthy fat.

If taco night was a hit in your home, try another family cooking activity. Watch this video on how to make Eagle Pizza, a Mexican. It uses some of the same ingredients as the taco salad and is a great way to use up any extra ingredients.

 

 

Physical Activity Tip

father and son at computer Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us recognize that too much screen time was not a good thing.

Currently, families face the stressful challenge of being quarantined, balancing their work tasks from home, and their children’s remote online-learning assignments with regular household chores. To stay healthy, it is important to strike a balance between these demands by taking time away from the screen and enjoying a family physical activity break.

family on a walk

Be a role model and find physical activities your family can enjoy together each day. Give these ideas a try.

  • Create a “no touch” scavenger hunt. Look for different colors, shapes, animals (dog, cat, squirrel, birds, etc.) or other items (statue, numbers, bicycles, trees). Draw what you find.
  • Help young athletes stay sharp and improve their skills. Practice drills outside for any sport, but avoid games that break the 6-foot closeness rule.
  • Explore the trails at a local park. Nature can help relieve stress and strengthen the immune system. Visit www.mass.gov to find out which state parks in Massachusetts are open and follow the guidelines for social distancing.
  • If it’s rainy outside, go on a color hunt indoors! Hide colorful objects around the house and have kids bring back the color you name.

Interested in some more resources?

Food Access Resources

food deliveryFor more information on how food assistance programs may be impacted by COVID-19, visit the feeding america.org. for information about food assistance programs.

Do you need help buying healthy food?

You may be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and can apply here.