Preparing your food:
When you fix your food, there are certain precautions to be taken.
When you deal with raw meat, be sure to wash everything before and after fixing it. Also to move everything from the area while you deal with the meat. Raw meat contains bacteria that can cause serious chronic health problems. Using a dirty sink or counter and cooking utensils and pots/pans to prepare your food will lend to food poisoning. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after preparation.
A tip for cleaning your meat: Soak your meat (if it is not ground) in 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide with the rest water for 10 minutes. This will kill any bacteria that you could not remove when washing it under running water. Good cleaning agents that do not harm the food are vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
If the produce you use is from the grocery store, be sure to wash it thoroughly as well.
After washing your meat under running water and getting it cooking, wash your hands thoroughly; then completely cover the entire area with a disinfecting chemical (making sure that no food is exposed to the chemicals). Let it sit there to disinfect for at least 10 minutes before washing everything off with hot water and soap.
Also, another precaution is food preservation. If hot food or any meat or dairy product sits out for more than 2 hours, it will grow bacteria and cause food poisoning. When you are finished with your meal, be sure to store your food in containers and put away into the refrigerator or freezer right away.
When you are planning a meal, make sure that you estimate how much food per person you will be fixing. Do not skimp unless you absolutely have to. Always fix enough food so that it will stretch to feed 2-3 people more than the amount of people you are serving.
Also, plan what flavors go well together so that the meal you fix is appetizing and does not cause heartburn. Greasy and spicy foods cause heartburn/indigestion for people who have sensitive stomachs.
