Food Safety Guidelines
I hope you have received your food and are looking forward to enjoying everything as the week goes on. I truly hope Nourished To-Go is helping you achieve optimal health and will save you more time to do what you love. It is important however that we discuss how to keep your food safe and avoid any potential pathogens being passed onto you.
It is important for ALL food to be put into the fridge as soon as you receive it. It cannot be out of the fridge for more than 2 hours. If you chose delivery for your method of receiving your food there must be someone home to accept the food upon delivery (Wednesday morning).
The fridge is a safe place for your meals to live up to 3 days and then they need to be frozen. I suggest looking at your meals for the week. Picking the ones you will eat within the first 3 days and then freeze the ones you want to have later. The frozen meals can then be
pulled out of the fridge the night before consuming. This is to make sure your food stays safe to consume and as fresh as possible. Below is a guideline for which meals I recommend freezing and which meals I recommend eating within the first 3 days. There is also a
guideline below on reheating meals! Please read over everything to assure you get to enjoy your meal in the best way.
Each week will include a Salad, a Macro Bowl and something else delicious and fun!
Follow these guidelines when planning your week.
Timeline for Consuming Foods
Eat first: (Within the first 3 days)
- Salads: Greens don’t freeze very well and any salads should be eaten within the first 3 days.
- Meals labelled “Serve Cold” These meals are best to be eaten fresh and not frozen first.
** Macro Bowls: These are best eaten early as they contain fresh ingredients that don’t freeze as well. If you are freezing your macro bowl remove your ingredients that are in the portion cups and keep in the fridge till you eat.
Okay to freeze: (Consume after 3 days)
- Curries
- Soups
- Chilli
- Lasagna’s
- Pasta
Bringing Meals Back to Life!
Reheating Macro Bowls:
- Stove top: These dishes are designed to have a mixture of fresh and cooked food. Your fresh ingredients will be in portion cups and should be added after the bulk of the meal is reheated. I like to think of reheating a meal as bringing it back to life. If you are able to be at home and have access to a kitchen then I suggest throwing the grain, cooked veggies and meat (if included) into a pan
and adding some salt and some olive oil. On medium heat fry until warm and when transfer into your serving dish, top with fresh ingredients and your sauce for the week and ENJOY!
- Microwave: Add grain, cooked veggies and meat (if included) into a microwavable container or dish and microwave for approx. 1 minute or 2. Then add your fresh ingredients and sauce for the week and ENJOY!
Reheating Curries, Soups, Chili's:
-Stove top: These can be reheated in a pot and brought to a simmer then enjoyed. If they are appearing thick feel free to add a tbsp or 2 of hot water. If there is portioned off fresh ingredients save these for topping at the end.
- Microwave: Transfer food into a microwavable dish and heat for 1-2 minutes. You may want to stop halfway through and stir your food. Then transfer to a plate or back into your container it came in to enjoy!
Reheating Salads:
Salads can be eaten and enjoyed cold! If they come with a protein or plant protein that you want to heat up just separate it off onto a plate and heat then add back onto your salad.
Reheating Pasta:
- Stovetop: Pastas do tend to dry out once they are chilled. For this reason if you are able to heat it up in the kitchen and add a drizzle of olive oil or milk/nut milk of choice (if creamy pasta) then this is the best way.
- Microwave: If you are reheating your pasta in the microwave you may also want to add a splash of water or liquid of choice to freshen it up!