There are foods to avoid eating at the beach. But, before we look at those foods, let’s talk about food safety during our warm weather outings. Here are a few tips for you to consider as you plan your next beach outing or BBQ dinner.
Separate Meat From Other Food
Keep meats and other food separated from the grocery store to the cart to the fridge and the table.
Always wrap meats even when thawing to prevent the juices from dripping onto other foods, especially produce. The culprit in food poisoning cases has often been produce, so pay attention to handling your fruits and vegetables.
Wash and Wash
Wash hands, cutting boards, dishes, and food.
Always wash your hands before and after preparing food. Never serve cooked meat on the same plate or tray that you used when it was raw. Always have a dedicated clean plate or tray ready to display your grilled meats.
Remember to thoroughly clean knives and cutting boards. Ideally, you should use a separate cutting board for bread and produce and another for meat products.
Wash produce in cold water and scrub thick-skinned foods like cantaloupe, as the bacteria can come in contact with the flesh of the fruit when being cut.
Cold and Hot Foods
A simple rule is to keep cold food cold and hot food hot.
Food can typically last for two hours at room temperature, but the safety window decreases to one hour in warmer weather. Cold food (potato salad, sandwiches, etc.) should stay in the fridge until ready to serve. If the food must travel, be sure to use ice or commercial freezing gel packets. Hot food should also stay insulated.
When eating outdoors, keep cold food in the shade and ensure the warm food is wrapped and insulated.
When people have stopped eating, the food should be returned to the ice box or insulated carrier. While you serve the food, it should remain hot or cold. Chill leftovers in clean, covered containers. If you are not able to refrigerate the leftovers within a couple of hours, it is best to throw them out.
Foods to Avoid
Eating certain foods at the beach can make you feel bloated and even more sensitive to UV rays. Bianca Mendez at EatThis.com, in “12 Foods People Eat At The Beach—But Shouldn’t!” identifies twelve foods to avoid eating at the beach. She also does an excellent job of explaining the impact of eating the food item. Here’s an example: She suggests not eating Doritos because this chip’s recipe is designed with no single flavor overpowering another. When foods don’t have a dominant flavor, people won’t feel full and thus eat more. Now, we know why you can’t just eat one.
12 Foods People Eat at the Beach—But Shouldn’t!
You have enough common sense to skip bringing things like spaghetti and meatballs to the beach. Now that the sun is out, the temperatures are rising, and the days are longer, it’s no surprise that everyone wants to hit the beach ASAP. Noshing on the wrong foods can make you feel bloated, uncomfortable, and even more sensitive to UV rays. Read the full story here…
With a little planning, you can keep your next picnic at the beach safe, fun, and healthy.
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Health to WELLNESS & SELF-CARE on 09/11/2023.
