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Komal Jethmalani |382 Answers |Ask -Follow

Dietician, Diabetes Expert - Answered on Sep 15, 2022

Komal Jethmalani is a practising dietician and nutritionist with over 26 years of experience.
She specialises in weight loss and diabetes management.
Jethmalani has completed her MSc in food and nutrition from SNDT University and trained at Jaslok Hospital.
She is a NDEP-certified diabetes educator.... more

Question by Krishika on Sep 15, 2022Hindi

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Hi,
Is there any problem eating leftovers the next day?
Do they lose their nutritional value?
Are there some things that can be had the next day and some things that should be avoided?
What's the best way of storing leftover veggies and fruits?
Should fruits be refrigerated?
Krishika

Ans:

Food leftovers can be kept for three-four days in the refrigerator. After that, there is a possibility of food poisoning.

Bacteria grow rapidly between the temperatures of 40°F and 140°F.

After food is safely cooked, hot food must be kept hot at 140°F or warmer to prevent bacterial growth.

Within two hours of cooking food, or after it is removed from an appliance keeping it warm, it (leftovers) must be refrigerated.

Throw away all perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Foods that carry a higher risk of food poisoning are those that are higher in protein and moisture content, two characteristics that allow certain microbes to grow.

Foods will change flavour when they are in the refrigerator. Some flavours are enhanced, as there is more time for the herbs to interact with the food and/or sauce. Others develop off-flavours, as some of the bacteria continue to multiply.

Wrap leftovers in airtight packaging or seal them in storage containers.

These practices help keep bacteria out, retain moisture and prevent leftovers from picking up odours from other food in the refrigerator.

Immediately refrigerate or freeze the wrapped leftovers for rapid cooling. However, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavour when stored for longer in the freezer.

Wash all your vegetables thoroughly before storing them in a cool and dry location or in the refrigerator.

A good rule of thumb is to keep high-ethylene gas-emitting fruits apart from other produce.

Apples, avocados, stone fruits, pears, bananas and tomatoes are a few of the top offenders, with delicate leafy greens being some of the most susceptible to ethylene gas.

DISCLAIMER: The answer provided by rediffGURUS is for informational and general awareness purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment.

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Question by Ramanika - Dec 16, 2021Hindi

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Dear Roopashree, In our home, we don’t like to throw food. Is it bad to eat food made a day or two ago, if it has been well-stored in the fridge? Is it okay to freeze cooked food and eat it after a week? Thank you, Ramanika

Ans:

Ideally, the fresher the food the better it is, Ramanika.

The first diet preference should be for fresh fruits and vegetables, followed by cooked meals. The least preference is given to packaged food that is not only old but also contains chemical based preservatives or high amounts of sugar.

While refrigerated food could be safe for consumption, it’s not ideal for digestion.

In the earlier days, we used to cherish simple sabzi at a dhaba, as it was plucked fresh from the fields and cooked right away for consumption.

Also, every time you heat food, its nutritional value comes down. Therefore, while stored food might taste good, its nutritional value is not the same as fresh food.

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Question by Shamistha - Jan 21, 2022Hindi

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Hi, I want to turn vegan but I am worried that it will affect my health because I may not get the nutrition I need. Can you please advise me about how to keep track and what I must keep in mind after I become a vegan? Also, are plant-based meats and other non-veg products made from plants healthy? I love non-veg food so how do I handle my cravings? Thank you for your time, Shamistha

Ans:

Being vegan has its challenges.

A high protein requirement is difficult to achieve in a vegan diet, though not impossible.

Plant-based foods with good cereal-pulse, cereal-nut combinations, lentils, soya, quinoa, spirulina, etc, can provide a good protein diet.

All meats made from plant food or vegan meat are good and include proteins from plant origins.

They are a good source of fibre, folate and iron, while containing less saturated fat than animal meat. There can, however, be nutritional deficiencies in a vegan diet if not properly balanced.

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Dietician, Diabetes Expert - Answered on Sep 27, 2022

Question by Deepika - Sep 27, 2022Hindi

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Dear Komal, I recently read somewhere that one should not directly munch on dry fruits because they are hard to digest. Is this true? Is it a good idea to soak them in water overnight and have it the following day? Does the nutrition value increase when you soak it overnight? Pls guide. Deepika

Ans:

Raw dry fruits contain phytates and oxalates that hinder absorption of certain nutrients. Soaking them will neutralise these inhibitors and aid in digestion. Thus, the nutritional value and flavour of the dry fruits is increased.

It is advisable to soak them overnight and have them the following morning.

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