Family Sanitation - Sanitation in the Kitchen

You will learn how to reduce health hazards associated with the kitchen. This includes dishes, utensils and food keeping.

 

Objective

Families will keep cooking areas clean and organized to stay healthy.

Lesson Preparation

Arrange to have the following materials to use in the lesson:

1. Dishwashing materials including dishes, water, soap, and chlorine bleach and two large containers to wash and rinse dishes in.

2. A utensil made from wood such as a spoon, dish or cutting board, fine sandpaper, and a magnifying glass.

3. A sheet of plastic to cover food preparation area.

4. Paper and pencil for family to write down their plans and goals.

5. A small object to use as a germ in the story.

Concepts to be Taught

Click on the magnifying glass of any image for enlargement.

1. Wash and sanitize dishes after cooking or eating to maintain family health.

2. Protect dishes from germs after they are sanitized.

3. Keep the home cooking area clean.

4. Store water, leftover food and garbage in covered containers.

Introduction:

Take a small object to represent a germ. If the lesson is being taught in a house, walk around and demonstrate how a germ can travel from a person's hand to a plate to a utensil, into a person's mouth. Another person could use the same utensil, if it is not washed properly and also get the germ. This lesson is going to discuss how to prevent spreading germs and illness through unclean objects.

Concept #1:

Wash and sanitize dishes after cooking or eating to maintain family health.

Germs, parasites, and illnesses can be spread to people in many ways. A common way that people get sick is from dirty plates, utensils, and glasses. They may get an illness from using a spoon or glass used by another family member who has a sickness. Children will often get sick in this way, and when they are ill frequently, they may have stunted growth.

Figure #1

Figure #2

Figure #3

Figure #4

Figure #5

Dishes must be cleaned in a way to kill all the germs and parasites on them (figure #1). To clean this way is to "sanitize." You can sanitize dishes by using hot, soapy water (figure #2). The soap will help remove the food off the dishes and help kill germs when used with hot water (figure #3). After washing, rinse the dishes in hot water and place them in a drying rack or on a clean dry surface where air can circulate to dry. Heat water in the most inexpensive way possible. One way is to put a pot over cooking coals after the cooking is done.

If you only have cold water to use, you must add some bleach to the water to sanitize the dishes (figure #4). The procedure is: wash dishes in cold water with soap, and rinse in cold water. Rinse dishes again in a solution of 1 teaspoon of 4-6% sodium hypochlorite bleach to 1 liter of water. (This is much stronger than the amount of bleach in drinking water.) You can reuse the bleach sanitizing solution throughout the day as long as it has a small amount of bleach. You will also be able to feel the bleach on your hands.

Learning Activity #1:

Gather the soap, water and other materials to demonstrate washing with hot water. Also show the sanitizing solution to be used with cold water.

Concept #2:

Protect dishes from germs after they are sanitized.

Clean dishes and utensils need to be protected so they do not get germs on them after they are clean. Let dishes dry on a clean drain rack. Cover them while they are drying with a clean, dry cloth so dust and insect will not get on them. Some people dry their dishes with a towel. Only do that if the towel is clean and dry.

After dishes are dry, store them in cupboards or other containers that will keep them free from insects and dirt (figure #5). They place where you keep dishes needs to be cleaned regularly. Utensils and cooking tools can be stored in separate boxes or in plastic of metal containers with lids. If dishes and utensils get dirty while they are being stored, they can be sanitized by rinsing them in the sanitizing bleach solution.

Learning Activity #2:

Family will look at the arrangement they have for storing dishes and utensils and will evaluate whether it is a good system or whether it needs to be changed.

Concept #3:

Keep the home cooking area clean.

Figure #6

We can get sick if our kitchen or cooking area has germs or insects (figure #6). Ask: If you were a germ or insect, where would you hide in the family kitchen? Possible places where germs could hide include: on wooden surfaces such as a cutting board, wooden table or wooden utensils, particularly on surfaces that may have a deep scratch or rough area. Wooden areas can be smoothed with sandpaper to make them easier to clean. Rough table or counter surfaces can be covered with plastic sheeting or oilcloth to make it easier to clean. Another place where insects of germs might hide are in corners and on the floor. The floor needs to be swept after meals to particularly remove any food particles that may have fallen. If the floor is a hard surface, clan it often with soap and water. If the floor is made of dirt, do your best to keep the dust down with a layer of very small gravel or cobblestone or oil. One problem in keeping some kitchens clean is that smoke from the cooking area is not vented away from the kitchen area. Smoke should be vented out of kitchens where possible.

Learning Activity #3:

The family should look around their own kitchen and cooking area to see where there are places for germs and insects or rodents to hide. Make a plan of how to keep these areas clean.

Concept #4:

Store water, leftover food and garbage in covered containers.

Figure #7

Figure #8

In the kitchen and cooking area, it is important to have a supply of purified water (review Lesson 5.1 for purification procedure). Keep water in a sanitized container with a lid (figure #7). Leftover food should also be stored in a clean container with a lid. It is best to store food at lower temperatures such as in a refrigerator or other cool place (figure #8). Check leftover food before eating to be sure it has not developed mold or a strong smell.

Garbage needs to be kept in a container with a tight lid or a plastic bag with the top closed that will keep out flies, and rodents and other animals. Keep it as far away from the kitchen as possible.

Learning Activity #4:

Family will check on how they currently store water, leftover food, and how they dispose of garbage. They will make plans to change if the situation can be improved.

Review:

Review each of the four concepts and have family determine what they need to do to improve these activities in their home.

Family Activity:

Family will set goals as to when and how they would like to accomplish the changes in their cooking area they decided on in the lesson.

Tell story of how germs spread around the house using a small object to represent the germ.

List of figures for lesson 6.1

(Click on the numbered links below to view and print full-sized figures)

1. Dishes and utensils must be clean for the family to be healthy. There are 2 ways to sanitize dishes with hot or cold water.

2. One way to sanitize dishes is with hot water and soap.

3. Scrub dishes with hot water, soap, and a cloth or brush, then rinse dishes in hot water.

4. The second way to sanitize dishes is by using cold water and bleach. Rinse dishes once in cold water. Rinse again in a solution with bleach.

5. Protect dishes while they are drying with a cloth. Store dishes in a cupboard free from dirt and insects.

6. In our kitchens, there are often places where germs or insects can hide.

7. We need to cover our purified water, leftover food and garbage to protect ourselves from germs and insects.

8. Leftover food should be stored in a clean container with a lid in a cool place.