Wednesday, November 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- By following a few safety tips, everyone in the family (even the youngest members) can participate in Thanksgiving meal prep lessons.
The country's leading organization for pediatrics offers some vacation tips for families with small children.
''Preparing meals this time of year can be very exciting and fun, but it can also be stressful,'' says Dina DiMaggio, member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
''Think about how you can involve children in the process, and consider hiring an adult to look after the youngest children when the kitchen is full. By planning ahead, families can help make the day go smoothly for everyone,'' she said in an Academy press release.
Here are some helpful tips:
• DiMaggio suggests starting teaching kids how to stay safe while cooking by teaching them how to hold cookware securely. You can do this with a special childproof knife.
• Demonstrate how to use oven mitts to protect hands from heat and how to safely turn on and off appliances. Explain to them the importance of keeping flammable materials away from open flames. • Supervise children to follow rules when cooking.
• Follow food safety guidelines such as washing raw vegetables and fruits and thoroughly cooking food. Even small children should wash their hands thoroughly after touching raw foods. Please wash your hands frequently and observe good manners.
• Make sure the food does not contain raw eggs or other ingredients that need to be cooked before serving the little helpers a taste. Wash the spoon before returning it to food.
•Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods in the refrigerator to prevent the spread of germs, suggests his AAP. Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the counter.
• Keep hot food and liquids well away from counters and table edges to protect everyone from burns. Keep small children out of reach of the microwave oven. Rotate the pan handle to the side or back of the rice cooker.
• Before walking around with hot liquids, be careful not to trip and injure your child. Don't drink hot drinks when your child is on your lap, recommends her AAP.
• Foods that require refrigeration should not be kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
• Clean up immediately after meals to prevent children from discovering choking hazards and accidents that may come into contact with alcohol or tobacco.
The country's leading organization for pediatrics offers some vacation tips for families with small children.
''Preparing meals this time of year can be very exciting and fun, but it can also be stressful,'' says Dina DiMaggio, member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
''Think about how you can involve children in the process, and consider hiring an adult to look after the youngest children when the kitchen is full. By planning ahead, families can help make the day go smoothly for everyone,'' she said in an Academy press release.
Here are some helpful tips:
• DiMaggio suggests starting teaching kids how to stay safe while cooking by teaching them how to hold cookware securely. You can do this with a special childproof knife.
• Demonstrate how to use oven mitts to protect hands from heat and how to safely turn on and off appliances. Explain to them the importance of keeping flammable materials away from open flames. • Supervise children to follow rules when cooking.
• Follow food safety guidelines such as washing raw vegetables and fruits and thoroughly cooking food. Even small children should wash their hands thoroughly after touching raw foods. Please wash your hands frequently and observe good manners.
• Make sure the food does not contain raw eggs or other ingredients that need to be cooked before serving the little helpers a taste. Wash the spoon before returning it to food.
•Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods in the refrigerator to prevent the spread of germs, suggests his AAP. Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the counter.
• Keep hot food and liquids well away from counters and table edges to protect everyone from burns. Keep small children out of reach of the microwave oven. Rotate the pan handle to the side or back of the rice cooker.
• Before walking around with hot liquids, be careful not to trip and injure your child. Don't drink hot drinks when your child is on your lap, recommends her AAP.
• Foods that require refrigeration should not be kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
• Clean up immediately after meals to prevent children from discovering choking hazards and accidents that may come into contact with alcohol or tobacco.
