Kids Ask Dr. Lisa:
Eating Outdoors

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, July 1 and August 19, 2007
Show 414

Michaela Powell:

Our family had a picnic outdoors, but my sister Gabby got there late because she had soccer practice. She just loves potato salad, but Mom said she couldn't have any because it was sitting in the sun too long. Why is that, Dr. Lisa?

Dr. Lisa Thornton:

You're Mom's absolutely right, Michaela. Food that's left in the sun too long can give you food poisoning. And believe me, you don't want to get it. Food poisoning happens because there are bacteria in our food, they're naturally there, but sometimes we do things that allow the bacteria to over grow and that can cause us to get sick.

Think of ways to keep food safe. Refrigerate food, keep it out of the sun, wash food before you eat it, and a couple of other things. When you're cooking you don't want to move utensils from one piece meat to the vegetables, wash those utensils, wash down that counter really well and wash your hands when you're preparing food.