Nutrition and Food Safety in the Festival of Spring.

Pesach is right around the corner, preparations are in full steam as we rush to prepare everything in time for the Passover holiday, a celebration of freedom. But before freedom, there was slavery

we need to shop, to clean, to tidy and organize, to cook etc. Yet, it is still essential to arrive at the Seder table with everyone joyful and healthy and that is why we must be careful to get through the holiday preparations without accidents or injuries.

Every year as Pesach approaches hundreds of children get hurt from cleaning supplies. Burns, poisoning and suffocation are the prevalent injuries related to cleaning. Ensuring rules of safe conduct are in place may prevent serious injuries.

Cleaning supplies must be kept out of reach of children- on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet. As soon as one is done using them, they should be returned to their storage location and shut properly, so that ingestion or inhalation of poisonous materials and burns can be avoided.

It is recommended that cleaning supplies and medications be purchased in child proof containers.

Cleaning supplies must not be combined, especially acids and whiteners. Such mixes release toxic gas and can be extremely dangerous.

Be sure to keep cleaning supplies and medicines in their original packaging with the container’s proper seal. Do not transfer cleaning supplies into regular bottles, even when marked “toxic”- toddlers cannot read.

Cleaning supplies should not be stored or placed anywhere near food or in drinking cups.

Read instructions meticulously before using supplies. If you follow these instructions carefully, both adults and children will benefit

Pesach nutrition-

The key to a healthy Pesach is eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, and for those who eat legumes- plenty of those too. Reduce the amount of fried foods and try to bake rather than fry. Use the days of the holiday for family trips, including sport activities, drink plenty of water and try to plan your menus in advance menu to minimize feeling hungry and grabbing something unhealthy.

Following is a recipe for healthy vegetable muffins, which can replace eating matzah at dinnertime

Passover Vegetable Muffins

Makes 24 muffins rich in dietary fiber and low in fat

INGREDIENTS:

2 zucchini/squash/courgette, grated

4 carrots, grated

2 onions, grated

2 medium potatoes, peeled and grated

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and grated

2 kohlrabis, peeled and grated or 1 small cauliflower, separated to smallest branches

200 gr. almond flour (can be substituted with matza meal)

3 eggs

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh herbs to taste: Parsley, cilantro, dill

Equipment needed: a muffin pan

Oil to oil the pan

Paper muffin cups (optional)

Baking Directions:

In a large bowl, mix all the grated vegetables, add spices and herbs, eggs and mix, add the almond flour to create a unified mixture.

Oil the pan lightly and place mixture in with a large spoon.

(One may oil the paper cups, place them in pan and fill them)

Place the pan in a preheated 180 C for 30 minutes until golden.