Food Safety for Kids

I understand that parenting is an ongoing job, but I think perhaps I have no idea how complicated it's going to be. Just when I get the potty training all done, I realized there is no rest for the weary. Since potty training, we've had to learn why we don't color on the walls, how to be nice to animals, why strangers are still strangers even if you learn their name, and most recently, about food safety.

My daughter loves to watch me cook. I guess she's a typical four-year-old in wanting to do everything that she sees me do. When appropriate, I allow her to help me mix, stir, and blend. She's even gotten pretty good at breaking open an egg.

The problem became obvious to me when directly after breaking an egg and depositing it into a bowl, she decided to stick her fingers into her mouth. I try not to be a paranoid mom, but all I could think were the warnings I always hear about raw eggs.

For Younger Kids

Food safety for preschoolers is pretty simple. The biggest issue you should worry about is that they wash their hands properly. Experts advise everyone to wash their hands before and after handling any raw foods. Hands should be washed for at least thirty seconds with warm soapy water. Hot water is best, but be careful it's not so hot it burns their hands.

Explain to them why they must wash their hands so frequently while handling food. They may not understand at first, and you may feel like a broken record, but keeping telling them. Young children and the elderly are more likely to die from food illnesses than older children and adults.

Keep on them about it. Never let them get away with not washing. This will help make your message loud and clear. If you have problems getting them to wash, let them pick out their own soap at the store, and give them a special stool to stand on while washing up. You can even make a game of it, or pick a certain song to sing while washing.

You can also teach younger children that all fruits and vegetables should be washed before they are eaten. You have no idea what can be on the outsides of these. Dirt, bacteria, or pesticides are commonly found on fruits and vegetables that come home from the store.

For Older Children

If you children can understand dates, show them how to check the expiration date on foods. Let them know they should never eat or use anything that has passed that date, and that there are no exceptions to this rule.

You can also teach them about thoroughly cooking foods, especially meats, and why this is important. While most meats and eggs are safe, there are exceptions. Teach them that if they don't feel well after eating something they should let someone know as soon as possible.

Older children can also learn about using clean surfaces for cooking and baking. Any raw foods can leave behind traces of bacteria, which will in turn contaminate any foods put on that surface. Show them how to clean between each type of food. Vegetables should never be chopped where raw meat has been unless the area has been thoroughly cleaned.

Remind your children that once a washcloth or sponge has touched raw meat or egg drippings, it should be tossed into the wash. Paper towels might be a good alternative for wiping up while preparing food, as long as a good antibacterial soap is used.

Hot foods should be kept hot, and the leftovers should be put away into the refrigerator quickly. They should never be left sitting out. The same goes for foods that should be kept cold. Foods that contain mayonnaise should be kept cold at all times. If they are left sitting out they should be thrown away.

Final Thoughts

In most cases, you won't have to nag your children in order for them to pick up these good habits. Simply leading by example and giving them gentle reminders should do the trick. These good habits will stay with them for a lifetime.