EatRight Ontario

+.
" ;,.S

l-8zz-slo-sro-2
urwrv'ontario'ca/eatright

*rlitwtrritltt
Washing a,ndstoring vegetablesand fruit
Healthy eating informalionfrom the RegisteredDietitians at EatRight Ontario.

Summeris a great time to enjoy plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.Make a point of storing fresh fruit and vegetablesproperly to keep them fresh, tasty and safeto eat. Here are tips to wash and storeyour produce to keep it safe. Store produce properly o Rinse fruit and vegetables(except for leaff greens)only when you are readyto use them. For most vegetablesand fruit, washing produce before you store it can make it spoil faster. Leafy greenswill stay fresh longer if they are rinsed, wrapped in paper towel and then placed in a containeror sealedplastic bag after purchase. o Know which vegetablesand fruit needto be storedin the refrigerator, which onesneed to ripen before being placed in the refrigerator, and which ones are best storedat room temperature.If you don't think that you'll be able to eat your produce before it spoils, try freezing. A generalrule is to refrigeratemost fresh fruit and vegetablesexcept for: Keep at room temperature until ripe, then refrigerate: apricots,avocados,kiwifruit, mangoes, melons,nectarines, papaya, peaches, pears,plums, tomatoes. Keep at room temperatureobest not in the refrigerator: bananas, garltc,onions(exceptgreen onions), maturepotatoes,pumpkins, rutabagas,sweetpotatoes,winter squash. Denseraw vegetablesuch as potatoesand onions are well suited to being storedin cold cellars or cool room temperatures. o When peeling or cutting, be sure to store fresh fruit and vegetablesin a refrigerator or cooler at or below 4"C (40"F) within two hours. Always use clean containersto store washedor preparedvegetablesand fruit. And rememberto keep fresh produce away from any raw meat, poultry or seafoodwhen preparing or storing it. Throw out any fruit or vegetablesthat are spoiled or that are left out at room temperaturefor more than two hours after they have beenpeeled or cut.

Wash produce well Rinse fresh fruit and vegetableswell under saferunning water before cutting, preparing or eating or them.Water is best for cleaningfreshproduce.There'sno needto use soap,detergents other washing solutions. Just rub or scrub the produce gently to remove any dirt. Here are sonle tips: o Even if you don't eat the peel,wash fruit and vegetables beforepeelingor cutting into them. This will prevent anything on the surfacefrom getting on the knife and then contaminatingthe insides. o Throw away the outer leavgsof leafy vegetables, before suchas lettuceor cabbage, washing. o Use a soft clean produce brush to scrub fruit and vegetablesthat have firm surfacessuch as oranges, melons,carrotsand potatoes. thal aredifficult to keep Avoid using sponges clean and dry to avoid spreadingbacterraaround. o Always wash your handswith hot water and soap(for at least20 seconds) before and after handling freshproduce. . Also usehot water and soapto rvashcountertops. cutting boards,utensilsand dishesthat come into contactwith freshproduce.Then sanitizethesewith a mild bleachsolutionthat you can make by mixing 5 mL (l tsp) of bleachu,ith 750 mL (3 cups)of water.

Here's a question to ask a RegisteredDietitian at EatRight Ontario: What are the best ways to cook vegetablesto keep the nutrients?

EatRight Ontario provides FREE healthy eating advice from RegisteredDietitians to e\,eryonein Ontario. Get answersto your food and nutrition questions: 1. Call I-877-5I0-5I0-2 andspeakto a Registered Dietitian. Open 9am to 5pm ET Monday to Friday and gpm ET. Serviceis availablein over 100languages. eveningsTuesdays and Thursdays until 2. Visit www.eatrightontario.cato email a RegisteredDietitian and to find menu plans, recipes,and videos. 3. Follow us at www.twitter.com/EatRightOntario and www.facebook.com/EatRightOntario Dietitians of Canada acknowledgesthe financial suppott of EatRight Ontario by the Ministry of Health reflect thoseof the Province. Promotionand Sport.The views expresseddo not necessarily