KTK-Nutrition

Who doesn’t like to eat out and enjoy meals with family or friends?   Many of us now bring hand sanitizer to restaurants when eating out and think we have done our “germ prevention”.   But did you know that there are many items in restaurants full of germs?   What are these items and what steps can you take to enjoy eating out without risking getting ill?   WebMD has a great article outlining these items, Germiest Things in Restaurants .    Menus:   Many times, I get to a restaurant and pull out my hand sanitizer, clean my hands, and then open the menu.   But WebMD notes some of the germiest items in a restaurant can be the menu.   Ever get a paper menu?   Paper menus are less germy than the plastic menus.         Suggestion :   Look at the menu and then wash or sanitize your hands, especially before enjoying some finger foods like many appetizers.   (See:   Healthy hints for choosing restaur...

When traveling this holiday season, you may find yourself eating at some food courts.   Most have a variety of food options.   Food courts also have a variety of germs that you really don’t want to partake of.   Dr. Oz has previously investigated food courts and recently did a show on food courts and why they can be full of germs – bacteria, fungi and even fecal matter.   What can you do to enjoy the food but leave the germs behind? Food Courts – where are the germs?    1.      Temperatures – often the food at food courts is lined up in pans along a window making it easy for you to see your choices.   But is the food being kept at the right temperature?   Dr. Oz reports on a study that found many food court establishments are not keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold.   Hot foods should be kept at 140 degrees or warmer and cold foods at 40 degrees or cooler (e.g. salad bar foods).   When tested, foo...

Some interesting nutrition articles in the news this week.   Last week we talked about avoiding sick days and how healthier habits can prevent getting sick this winter.   Well, here are some other habits to think about this week and this winter season.    Touch screens and bacteria Who doesn’t like to order food at those convenient touch screens?   So many fast food restaurants are adding these touch screens.   You can walk up to the screen, order what you want and your order begins to be processed.   Usually no line waiting to use the touch screen.   However, before you take your first bite into the food you ordered this way, you may want to wash your hands.   Or, use the handy hand sanitizer I recommended you take with you wherever you go.    Researchers in London swabbed touch screen kiosks at eight different restaurants in the United Kingdom.   Unfortunately, they found bacteria on every kiosk.   A wid...