Box Tops and Food Safety

So you have a child in school, you want to help with the class more, because well, you’re her parent! But you a) work full time or b) have small children at home? No fret! There are still ways you can help the class and child and still do you’re other responsibilities.

Room mothers are usually needed to help out with parties, field trips, and some miscellaneous project every now and then. Although it might be hard to physically go to these things, there are ways to help, and be involved with the class. First step is to find time to meet with the teacher to discuss which activities the room mother might be needed for. Tell him/her that although you cannot come to all the events required, you are here to help. Get the list of mothers/fathers involved with the class (or the actual “room mothers”) and call them to tell them the same.

You can do such things as putting together gift bags, baking cupcakes, sewing costumes, or making signs for a fundraiser. These things can be done at home and on your time. The important part to this is you need to OPEN YOUR MOUTH and then do the things you said you would do. When a party is planned, tell the room mother you are willing to bake the rice crispy treats. Fundraiser coming up? Make sure to TELL the teacher and room mother you will help. The point to this is to not wait on people to ask you.

Box Tops

Another way to help your school is by participating in Box Tops for Education. Box Tops are found on a ton of the products we already buy. Products like; Cheerios, Hamburger Helper, Kleenex, and even on Kotex Maxi Pads! The school gets 10 cents for EVERY box top, and they can add up! A lot of people do not realize how much of an impact these have for a school, and do not think about it when they throw the package out. A great way to keep track of the tabs is to always have an envelope in your kitchen to hold the tops. Once a month, bring them into your child’s school, or to a local school. Also, some schools are a part of My Coke Rewards, Tyson Project A+ (Tyson Chicken), and Campbells Labels for Education. Be sure to ask! Please take the time to check out and sign up at these websites!

Box tops for Education

My Coke Rewards

Tyson Project Plus

Campbells Labels for Education

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Is that Pizza Safe to Eat?

With the holidays going on, I always have the uneasy feeling when the leftovers get left on the counter a bit too long. If you have to ask the question “Has that food sat out too long?”, then it probably is unsafe. The food “danger zone” is from 41 to 141 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature range where bacteria love to party. Despite how well we prepare our food there will always be hazardous bacteria on or in it. We keep them to a safe level by slowing growth through refrigeration or actually killing most of them through proper cooking. However, when the food sits in the “danger zone” those bacteria that are left are multiplying, and multiplying...like rabbits these things are!

There are many food borne illnesses. If you follow common sense you will rarely find yourself with one. Have you ever had a 24 hour flu? Ask your doctor but more than likely you ate something that was under cooked or sat out a little too long. I do not want to scare you into not eating anything, but you need to know a few things like do not use a wooden cutting board, due to the fact that bacteria can get caught in it, and there no real way to properly sanitize wood. And be sure to put your food into the fridge when you are done eating it...not hours later. Notice earlier I said that refrigeration only slows the growth. I know you have forgotten about that spaghetti dinner you had three weeks ago. Don't eat that either! Fuzzy is good for peaches not for spaghetti.

The next time your lovely meal has sat out for four hours or more, you are definitely in harm’s way. There are multiple factors that affect the growth of bacteria like moisture, protein, and acidity levels. You cannot tell simply by looking at food to see if it is safe (unless of course it's that green, fuzzy spaghetti). So when you’ve eaten your fill at a picnic and your attention turns to playing in the park, think twice about going back to the table and dipping into that coleslaw.