June 28th, 2009

Unlike frozen foods that can be bought off the shelf, or the freezer, fresh produce shopping is a bit difficult. Produce is not predictable as it involves handling by human beings till it reaches the super store.
Don’t ever buy any fruit or vegetable that has a hole or is damaged from outside. This is because there are chances that the fruit is decayed from inside. Also, even if you shop for freshly cut produce place it in ice when you reach home. All the rest of the produce should be kept in the fridge within two hours of buying the same.
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June 27th, 2009

It is said that you first taste food with your eyes, and then eat with your tongue. How true, isn’t it? The way in which a food item is presented makes a lot of difference in our appetite.
When you lend visual appeal to a recipe, it becomes desirable to consume too. This is very helpful when you have fussy eaters at home. A fresh green leaf of iceberg lettuce in a sandwich changes the entire look of it. Similarly, a red cherry placed on top of a pastry is so tempting.
So make food ‘look’ interesting before it ‘tastes’ interesting, especially for kids!
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June 26th, 2009

Well, as we are talking about food these days, I am finding new ways of getting fresh produce into your kitchen.
Sometimes if we store garlic for long, the pods turn dry and the cloves become unsuitable for use. Don’t throw these dry cloves and plant them in a small pot instead. After some days, you will find green shoots sprouting up from the pot. These garlic blades can be used as seasoning and taste the same as garlic (obviously!).
So tell me if you make good use of some ingredient used in making food that would have otherwise gone waste.
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June 25th, 2009

Once on a visit to India, I shopped for some spices for my kitchen. Spices not only lend a distinct flavor to the food, but they are medicinal too!
Ginger can be added to your tea while boiling for keeping away from cold. It is also helpful in indigestion. If you suffer an accidental cut while chopping vegetables, simply dab some turmeric powder on the wound. It works as an antiseptic and will arrest blood flow immediately.
Garlic is good for your heart. One clove of garlic eaten raw daily surely makes a difference. So include these spices in your daily menu today!
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June 24th, 2009

Vegetables form an important part of your diet even if you are a meat-eater. There are certain things that need to be taken care of when washing these fresh veggies. Never cut the vegetables before washing them thoroughly as they will lose the nutrients.
Dip them in a bowl of water and let the dust and dirt lodged on the vegetables wash away properly. In case of green leafy veggies, soak them in a large bowl of water for about 5 minutes. Since they grow in the soil, they have lots of mud clinging to the leaves that needs to be washed off.
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June 23rd, 2009

If you are a parent you know how difficult it is to inculcate good eating habits in kids. There are so many distractions and choices available for kids these days that you have to be really smart to raise a healthy child.
This can be made possible if you start right from when the kid is still a baby. Moreover, do give him food choices, but ensure that they are nutritious. An infant, below two years of age, must be exposed to all sorts of food tastes when you start solids.
This is the best secret for avoiding fussy eaters.
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June 22nd, 2009

Meal times should be happy for kids. The piping hot food that you serve at the table is really appreciated by adults, but toddlers think otherwise!
Make it a point to taste the food and test its temperature before serving it to your child. Children are dependent on us for everything till a certain age. Your kid might not be able to tell you that the food is spicy or hot as he is young.
You can buy a special kid spoon that changes color if the food is still hot. It comes in handy when you are in a hurry.
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June 21st, 2009

Vegetarianism is catching up with everybody across the world nowadays. Some follow it just like a fashion trend and some actually believe in it. I strongly believe in being a vegetarian and this is why I do.
Basically, I am a vegetarian because I cannot kill some living being and consume it in my meal! Though I am not going to hurt the chicken directly, it is going to be killed to be a part of my lunch or dinner, so this is disturbing for me.
I would rather eat healthy veggies and fruits and have a peace of mind. What about you?
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June 20th, 2009

I have told you about the dangers of improper cooking of meats and food. Today I will tell you something about eggs.
Whenever you cook eggs, check that the egg yolk and egg white portion is firm. It should not be runny or loose. While making a scrambled egg cook till they have a firm texture. One more important tip is to completely stay away from recipes that need raw eggs or partially cooked eggs.
Proper cooking will make it easy to digest and also give your body the required nutrients. Let me know if you tried this at home!
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June 19th, 2009

For preserving the taste of food, it is important that you cook it properly. Thorough heating is required to get rod of harmful pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella.
The U.S Department of Agriculture advises cooking ground meat to an internal temperature of a minimum of 160°F and all kinds of poultry to at least 165°F. If you wish to check it yourself, ground meat turns brown or grey from inside when done; poultry is cooked well when its juices are clear. A completely cooked fish can flake with a fork.
A meat thermometer is the best way to confirm that it is cooked alright.
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