Contest| "Tools to Spark Culinary Inspiration #12"

Cooking is an art, It is like a meditation. If we do anything with love it will turn out great. Many things begin with the kitchen. It's a place that we should always keep clean and tidy. As women, we often spend most of our time in the kitchen, making it a lovely place is our responsibility. Walking into a clean kitchen in the morning is a huge relief, and we can turn it into a happy place to work. I'm grateful to our dear friend @ninapenda for organizing this unique contest each week that draws our attention.

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• What do you understand by the word "food poisoning?" In your own word, explain.

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I experienced Food poisoning once when I attended a friend's birthday party. There we ate Cheese Kottu ( A dish made of cut roti pieces, mixed with vegetables, meat, and cheese), and I drank Iced coffee. This was the dinner I had, It taught me a great lesson to not have food that is made in large quantities, especially from unfamiliar places. The food was ordered from a restaurant, and it was the first and the last time I had the food from that particular restaurant.

Food poisoning means when our body reacts to contaminated foods.

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• What are the symptoms of food poisoning? And what are some tips to avoid it?

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From my experience, food poisoning started with stomach pain and diarrhea, and I started feeling nauseous and dizzy at the same time. I felt my body had become so weak, and I even needed help just to move. Eventually, I started vomiting continuously. I tried drinking lime juice, which helped me to feel a bit better but I couldn't stop vomiting for any home remedy.

It's best to visit a doctor if you have these symptoms after having a particular meal. Since I wasn't aware of food poisoning symptoms I tried several home remedies, but none of them worked. However, It was cured after taking the doctor-prescribed medication.

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We never know when we may be affected by food poisoning. It's always great to follow hygienic practices, like washing our hands before consuming any food. It's ideal to prepare meals at home because you know how hygienically it is been made - avoiding contaminated foods can reduce the risk of food poisoning.

It would be great if we could have our meals while it's hot because it can kill harmful bacteria if heated to the right temperature. Good storage is important to avoid any growth of bacteria or toxins. Therefore, it is very important to be careful when consuming perishable foods stored in refrigerators.

Try to avoid eating raw meats, because there is a high risk of contamination.

Lastly, even water can be harmful and full of toxins. Always try to consume filtered water or boiled water to avoid complications.

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• At what point can we say that a particular food is safe for consumption?

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Unless we cook the food by ourselves we can't be sure how safe it is. Cooking is not just about serving delicious meals, there is a great responsibility to prepare food hygienically. It should not cause any harm after consumption. Home-made food is generally safe as it is made with care and handled hygienically ensuring its healthiness.

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Especially when eating out, we should check and ensure that there is no sign of spoilage, a strange smell, or an unusual color or texture of the food. Sensing the food is one of the best ways to ensure that the food is safe for consumption. Additionally, we should also check the reviews of the restaurant that we are visiting. Because it can help a lot to avoid having a bad experience with the food.

Lastly, we can also check the expiry date of the packaged foods to confirm they are safe to use.

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_{I hope you enjoyed reading my entry on "Food Poisoning". I invite @dekna1992, @dipi2024, and @woka-happiness to participate in the contest. Thanks for being with me and supporting me with your upvotes.}

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