by Mary Wright, health educator for North End Waterfront Health
Hot weather often causes people to lose their appetite but it is important to eat and drink enough to keep you healthy. When it is hot and you do not feel like eating big meals, have five or six smaller snack-like meals during the day. Be sure to drink plenty of water—at least eight glasses during the day. For cool meals or snacks, eat fruits and vegetables that do not need to be cooked.
Food safety is very important during the hot weather. Chill or refrigerate perishable foods promptly. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, or fish. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. When in doubt about the safety of food, throw it out. For example, if food has been left at room temperature longer than two hours (one hour if the temperature is higher than 90 degrees), throw it out. Do not taste it.
For more information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555 or the FDA Food Information Line at 1-800-SAFE FOOD.
For more information on North End Waterfront Health, see their website.
