Summer Recipes & Food Safety Tips

With summertime in full swing, it’s wonderful time to take advantage of the abundance of fresh, local vegetables and fruits available. Explore the recipes below for new inspiring ways to enjoy the flavours of summer!

• Hearty Summer Rainbow Power Salad. By Lindsay Pleskot, RD

• Easy Cumin Lime Black Bean Burgers with Oats. By Desiree Nielsen 

• Chopped BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad. By The Real Food Dietitians. 

• Strawberry Fruit Popsicles with Greek Yogurt. By Nicole Addison, RD. 

As we look forward to the many opportunities to celebrate summer with barbecues, pool parties, picnics, beach days, and camping trips, it is important to be aware of the increased risk of food borne illness related to warmer temperatures and cooking outdoors.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep your food safe, during your summer activities. Here are a few ways to safely handle, prepare, transport, and store your food to reduce the risk of food poisoning:

• Chill

  • Keep perishable foods cold. Use a cooler filled with ice packs to store your food on the go. 

  • Don't keep food at room temperature for more than one hour on hot summer days.

• Separate

  • Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables.

  • Store meat in sealed containers to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods.

• Clean

  • Wash your hands often following proper cleaning techniques.

  • Use clean water and soap to thoroughly wash all utensils, dinnerware, countertops, and cutting boards before and after use.

• Cook

  • Raw meat, poultry, and seafood must be cooked to a safe internal temperature to eliminate harmful bacteria. Us a digital food thermometer to check the temperature.

  • Use a clean plate when taking food off the grill. Keeping several sets of clean utensils, cutting boards, and plates on hand will help you prevent cross-contamination.

Learn More:

1. Food safety https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/seasonal-food-safety/summer-food-safety-tips.html 

2. Safe cooking temperatures https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/general-food-safety-tips/safe-internal-cooking-temperatures.html 

3. Food safety tips for leftovers https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/general-food-safety-tips/food-safety-tips-leftovers.html