Published on November 22, 2023

As holiday festivities are approaching, Metro Health is encouraging the community to take safety measures to stay healthy while preparing for the upcoming celebrations and family gatherings.

Metro Health’s nutrition education program ¡Viva Health! reminds you that the holidays are a great time for families to create traditions and healthy eating habits. Our Food Safety program also offers tips to help protect you and your loved ones from food poisoning.

Celebrate and Cook Together

Family meals are an opportunity to create healthy traditions and celebrate around the table.

• Celebrate family time in a healthy way by eating a wide variety of colorful foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
• Teach children about handling food safely. Ensure they wash their hands before cooking and between touching raw and cooked foods.
• Make new memories with creative dishes using traditional or familiar ingredients.
• If you have COVID-19 or any other respiratory illness, please stay home to avoid spreading viruses to others.
• Be sure to clean all dishes with hot water and soap after use.

Balance Your Meals

Make everyday a celebration by eating well and feeling great by keeping these guiding principles in mind:

• Make ½ your plate fruits and veggies, every meal, every day.
• Use smaller plates or bowls for portion control.
• Drink water, not sugary drinks. Avoid or limit alcohol. If you do have an alcoholic drink, have it with food.
• Don’t skip meals to save up for a fest. It will be harder to keep your blood sugar in control. You will most likely overeat if you do this.
• If you have a sweet treat, cut back on other carbs during a meal.

Ensure Food Safety

Make sure all meals are safe to eat to avoid food poisoning.

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water, even those with skins and rinds that are not eaten.
• Be sure to use a food thermometer to check whether meat has reached a safe internal temperature that is hot enough to kill harmful germs that cause food poisoning. Food Safety Guidelines can be reviewed on Metro Health’s website.

Resources and informational flyers, including healthy eating on a budget, weekly meal planners, infographics, and more, are available on Metro Health’s website. Metro Health wishes the community a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.