Everybody wants to be healthy. However, some of us are not quite sure how to go about doing that. The way we eat, how we prepare food, what medications we take, how much exercise we get and our basic lifestyles all contribute to “being healthy.” One of the most important ways to avoid being ill is to make sure the food we cook, serve and eat has been prepared with the highest standards with careful attention to cleanliness. Whether we are cooking for the family or guests, the last thing we would want to do is have someone become sick because of poor sanitation practices in the kitchen.

An informative package of information entitled, “Feast on Food Safety” from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Federal Citizen Information Center is available free. There are a few easy steps to add to your daily routine when preparing foods in the kitchen. Washing your hands and countertops frequently and cooking foods to the right temperatures to kill bacteria should become second nature after reading this literature. Included in the package are handy pull-off reference cards that outline the basics of keeping food safe. Cross-contamination can be prevented by using different cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and another for vegetables. Using a food thermometer, instead of checking to see if something “looks” done, to make sure food is hot enough. We received an electronic food thermometer from our daughter several years ago and it has be a wonderful asset in the kitchen. Meats are now cooked to perfection and just the way we want them to be and we know that the meat is completely safe and prepared in a healthy manner. In this free package of information a chart is included that details the minimal temperature for each kind of meat, poultry and seafood. The chart can be posted inside a cupboard for handy reference.

Other tips in Feast on Food Safety include how to cook a perfect turkey, how long to defrost the bird and what is the safest way to stuff a turkey. Keep your focus on enjoying meals with family and friends, instead of worrying about bacteria that might be lurking in your kitchen.

While on the topic of being healthy, there are lifestyle changes that one can adapt to that are basic. Eat right, visit your doctor for regular checkups and make sure you do not become a coach potato! “Healthy Living,” a package from the FDA Office of Women’s Health and the Federal Citizen Information Center will help readers spot potential hazards to their health and learn how to protect themselves and their family. Included in this free package is a fact sheet entitled “Sunscreens and Tanning.” What are the risks involved with year-round sun exposure? How do you defend yourself against harmful rays? The fact sheet includes suggestions on how to sport a “healthy” UV-free glow, compliments of popular sunless tanners and bronzers.

Do you wear contact lenses? They are a welcome alternative to eyeglasses for vision correction. However, before you use them, do you know about their proper care? There is a fact sheet entitled “Contact Lens Care.” This fact sheet describes the different types of lenses on the market and how to keep them clean and sanitary. It also explains various warning signs that indicate problems with different types of lenses. For sports enthusiasts that want to wear contact lens instead of glasses, this information may be particularly important. For those skiers and swimmers out there that glasses cannot be worn during the sport activity, this brochure will certainly come in handy to see if contact lenses is an option for them.

There could be no better way to keep healthy than to avoid smoking or to finally plan a way to stop, if you already have this habit. There are medicines that will help you do this. But which one is the right one for you? Included in the Healthy Living package is a pamphlet that explains different aids: patches, gums, sprays and pills. You will read which may be the best for you because some can be bought over the counter and others need a doctor’s prescription. There is no need to put it off any longer. Now is the time to stop smoking and begin a new healthier lifestyle!