How to Pack a Healthy and Safe Lunch

Keep everything clean., Rinse produce., Keep hot foods hot by storing them in the correct container., Keep cold foods cold by using appropriate storage containers., Use a frozen gel pack., Freeze a juice pack to help keep the lunch cold., Put school...

12 Steps 2 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Keep everything clean.

    Start with clean hands.
  2. Step 2: Rinse produce.

    Clean all fruits and vegetables before eating.

    Wash them under running water and dry them with a clean towel. , Keep hot foods such as soup, chili or stew hot
    - 140 °F (60 °C) or above
    - by using an insulated container.

    Preheat the thermos with hot water and let stand.

    Drain the hot water and fill with hot food. , Use an insulated lunch bag.

    Metal or plastic lunch boxes and paper bags can also be used.

    Double sack paper lunch bags to increase their insulation qualities. , Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly between the temperatures of 40 degrees and 140 °F (60 °C). , Use a frozen juice pack to keep things cold.

    Also, freeze sandwiches to help keep them chilled until lunchtime.

    The sandwiches will be thawed in time for lunch. , If a refrigerator is available at school, that's the best option to keep food cold. ,, Toss what's left of lunch rather than saving the food for another lunch. , Consider keeping a supply of shelf-stable foods on hand for easy packing.

    These include crackers, nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter, packaged pudding and canned fruits or meats. , Making up the lunch the night before can be a real time saver.

    Sandwiches should be kept in the refrigerator, or frozen, until time to go in the morning. , Line up the ingredients assembly line style and make a bunch of sandwiches in bulk.

    This is much like Once-a-Month cooking where foods are all prepared at once for later use.

    Freeze the sandwiches for later use.[[Image:
    Pack a Healthy and Safe Lunch Step
    12.jpg}}
  3. Step 3: Keep hot foods hot by storing them in the correct container.

  4. Step 4: Keep cold foods cold by using appropriate storage containers.

  5. Step 5: Use a frozen gel pack.

  6. Step 6: Freeze a juice pack to help keep the lunch cold.

  7. Step 7: Put school lunches in the school refrigerator.

  8. Step 8: Keep lunch boxes away from direct sunlight and heat sources such as radiators and baseboards.

  9. Step 9: Throw out uneaten food.

  10. Step 10: Keep shelf-stable foods handy.

  11. Step 11: Prepare the lunch the night before.

  12. Step 12: To save time consider making sandwiches in bulk.

Detailed Guide

Start with clean hands.

Clean all fruits and vegetables before eating.

Wash them under running water and dry them with a clean towel. , Keep hot foods such as soup, chili or stew hot
- 140 °F (60 °C) or above
- by using an insulated container.

Preheat the thermos with hot water and let stand.

Drain the hot water and fill with hot food. , Use an insulated lunch bag.

Metal or plastic lunch boxes and paper bags can also be used.

Double sack paper lunch bags to increase their insulation qualities. , Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly between the temperatures of 40 degrees and 140 °F (60 °C). , Use a frozen juice pack to keep things cold.

Also, freeze sandwiches to help keep them chilled until lunchtime.

The sandwiches will be thawed in time for lunch. , If a refrigerator is available at school, that's the best option to keep food cold. ,, Toss what's left of lunch rather than saving the food for another lunch. , Consider keeping a supply of shelf-stable foods on hand for easy packing.

These include crackers, nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter, packaged pudding and canned fruits or meats. , Making up the lunch the night before can be a real time saver.

Sandwiches should be kept in the refrigerator, or frozen, until time to go in the morning. , Line up the ingredients assembly line style and make a bunch of sandwiches in bulk.

This is much like Once-a-Month cooking where foods are all prepared at once for later use.

Freeze the sandwiches for later use.[[Image:
Pack a Healthy and Safe Lunch Step
12.jpg}}

About the Author

L

Larry Price

Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow home improvement tutorials.

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