Taken from literature provided and made available by the Veterans Administration for all of us Veterans.

Keep food safe.

As you grow older, you must take extra care to keep your food safe to eat. It is harder for you to fight off infections, and some foods can make you very sick.

Handle raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs with care. Keep them apart from foods that will be cooked or are already cooked. Use hot, soapy water to wash your hands, tools, and work surfaces as you cook.

Don’t depend on sniffing or tasting food to tell what is bad. Try putting dates on the foods in your fridge. Check the “use by date” on foods. If in doubt, toss it out.

Make sure your food gets into the refrigerator. No more than two hours after it is bought or cooked. Use or freeze leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Can I afford to eat right?

If your budget is limited, it might take some planning to be able to pay for the food you should eat. Here are some suggestions.

• By only the food you need – a shopping list will help.
• Buy only as much food as you will use. If you buy in bulk, buy only as much as you can use before it goes bad.
• Choose foods with plain generic labels or store brands – they often cost less than the name brands.
• Plan your meals around food that is on sale.
• Divide leftovers into small servings, label, and date, and freeze for use within a few months.

Federal government programs are available to help people of low incomes by groceries. To learn more about these programs or find your Area Agency on Aging, contact the Eldercare Locator listed below.