Healthy Holiday Hosting Tips

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The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and gathering with loved ones. As you prepare to host friends and family, it’s essential to prioritize health and safety. By following some key tips on food hygiene, kitchen cleanliness, and overall sanitation, you can create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone. Here are some healthy hosting tips to ensure a worry-free holiday celebration.

Preparing Your Kitchen

Ensure a clean and sanitized kitchen by using hot water and soap to clean various surfaces and utensils such as the sink, counters, cutting boards, pans, knives, and thermometers. For an extra layer of cleanliness, consider sanitizing countertops and cutting boards using a diluted bleach solution. If instructions are not available, leave the diluted bleach solution on the surface for at least 1 minute before removing or wiping.

Keep an ample supply of clean cloth towels or paper towels within reach for both meal preparation and clean-up. If you opt for cloth towels, wash them frequently using the hot cycle of your washing machine.

Food Hygiene

Maintain food hygiene by practicing proper separation of raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination. When preparing various items, such as a roast and raw veggies for a dip platter, keep raw meat from coming into contact with ready-to-eat foods. Additionally, avoid consuming raw dough or batter containing flour or eggs, and cook foods thoroughly to reach safe minimum internal temperatures. Check out this food temperature chart for guidelines on how to properly cook raw meat, poultry, and other foods.

Place Hand Sanitizer at Key Locations

Encourage good hand hygiene by strategically placing hand sanitizer at key locations throughout your home. Consider positioning hand sanitizer stations near the entrance, in the kitchen, and near the dining area. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of germs spreading.

Clean and Restock the Restroom

Maintaining a well-kept restroom is crucial for guest comfort and hygiene. Follow these steps to ensure a clean and welcoming restroom environment:

  • Regularly clean and disinfect all bathroom surfaces, including sinks, countertops, and doorknobs
  • Provide ample soap, disposable hand towels, or paper towels, for proper hand hygiene
  • Check and restock essential supplies before guests arrive

The Two-Hour Rule

Follow the two-hour rule for food safety. Chill leftovers within two hours of cooking, and toss out any items that have been on the table for longer than two hours. Avoid leaving perishable foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs, and casseroles, in the Danger Zone (between 40 and 140 °F) for over two hours, as this is where bacteria multiply rapidly. Ready-to-eat items like cookies, crackers, bread, and whole fruit are exceptions to the danger zone.

Post-Party Cleanup

Don’t feel pressured to complete all party cleanup in one night. Instead, gather and centralize items in one place for easier management. Perform spot checks on carpets and furniture for immediate stain attention. Once organized, allow yourself to rest and approach the remaining cleanup with a fresh perspective the next day.

Following these guidelines will not only ensure the well-being of your guests, but also add to a joyous and worry-free gathering. Make sure to schedule an appointment with your NOAH provider for COVID and flu vaccinations to safeguard your well-being during the holiday season.