Five tips for enjoying outdoor meals safely

Poonam Dattani, RD, MHSc., PHEc., is a Registered Dietitian with the Sun Life | Osler Healthy Active Living Initiative outreach program at William Osler Health System (Osler). She holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition Communication from Toronto Metropolitan University and an undergraduate degree in dietetics from Brescia University College. Poonam also serves as Chair for the Dietitians of Canada’s Media Network practice group.

Whether it’s a picnic, camping trip or backyard gathering, spending time outside with family and friends in the summer is always fun. Before you head outside, William Osler Health System dietitian Poonam Dattani shares five practical tips to help you enjoy your food safely:

Clean hands, safe food

Wash your hands before and after touching food. If there is no sink, use hand sanitizer or wipes. Clean surfaces like tables and coolers and bring clean utensils to stop the spread of germs. Keep raw and cooked foods separate and use different plates and tools to prevent cross-contamination.

Cool it, consume it!

Use a cooler with multiple ice packs to keep foods like meat, cheese, eggs, and yogurt cold –below 4°C (39°F). Store raw meat at the bottom in sealed bags to avoid leaks. Open the cooler only when needed and put food back in the cooler within two hours, or one hour if the temperature is over 32°C (90°F).

Cook it well

Use a food thermometer when cooking. Cook chicken to 74°C (165°F) and burgers to 71°C (160°F). Serve and eat food right after cooking to keep it safe and tasty.

Pack smart, plan right

Do the prep work at home and bring only what you need. Cut vegetables, marinate meat, and mix spices at home. Choose dry snacks like trail mix, crackers, or dried fruit when you can – they don’t need to stay cold.

When in doubt, throw it out!

If food smells funny, looks weird, or has sat out too long, do not risk it and throw it out. Food safety comes first - keeping your family safe is the most important part of any meal!