Holiday Ideas: Residents and Food Preparation

When residents are preparing food as part of an activity, it is important to be certain that they do not contaminate the food. Cross-contamination in an activity needs to be avoided just as much as in the kitchen.

This does not mean that food preparation activities should be avoided. Just be sure that the residents wash their hands properly, use utensils as much as possible when handling food, use gloves when utensils are not practical, and change gloves and wash hands whenever gloves become contaminated.

A simple activity that many residents enjoy is decorating cookies. If all the residents are doing is picking up cookies, frosting and decorating them, gloves work well. If someone in activities sets up their work area and gets them whatever they need, they will not be as likely to contaminate the food. Of course, the employees and volunteers assisting the residents must follow the same procedures for keeping food safe!