Washing your hands
Always wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw food, including vegetables.
Not just for the kids
How to wash fruit and vegetables
It is important to wash all fruit and vegetables before you eat them to make sure they are clean and safe to eat.
When you wash vegetables, don’t just hold them under the running tap. Rub them under water, for example in a bowl of fresh water. Start with the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse.
Wash all fruit and vegetables before you eat them to make sure that they are clean and to help remove bacteria from the outside.
Peeling or cooking fruit and vegetables can also remove bacteria.
There is always a risk of harmful bacteria on loose vegetables spreading to other food if produce is not stored, washed and cooked properly.
Storing, handling and cooking raw vegetables
Keep raw food, including vegetables, separate from ready-to-eat foods.
Use different chopping boards, knives and utensils for raw and ready-to-eat foods, or wash these items thoroughly in between uses.
Check the label – unless packaging around vegetables says ‘ready-to-eat’ you must wash, peel or cook them before eating.
Peeling Chopping and Grating
A series of videos from Food a fact of life website demonstrating safe techniques for preparing food
The Bridge Hold
In this demonstration you will see a tomato being cut using a technique called ‘the bridge hold’. It is a good way of cutting round foods like tomatoes and apples.
The Claw Grip
In this demonstration you will see celery being sliced, using a technique call ‘the claw grip’. This is a good way to hold food safely while you cut it.
Grating
In this demonstration you will see carrot being grated safely. Graters are sharp, so it is important to be careful when you use them.
Pealing
In this demonstration you will see a carrot and potato being peeled. These types of foods are peeled using a vegetable peeler.
Onion Preparation
In this demonstration you will see an onion being prepared safely.
Resource Links
Plenty of free ideas and downloadable resources
to get kids learning about healthy living.