As Independence Day approaches in India, the three colours of the Indian flag start appearing on everything from mannequins placed in textile shops to sweets on display at local bakeries. Delicacies, decorated in the saffron-white-green combination pattern of the flag are tempting to look at and often, they sell like hotcakes around the I-Day. However, make sure that you don't forget food safety practices around the time in the spirit of the day. While enjoying tri-colour foods, here are a few things you can do to ensure your body also gets to celebrate the day with peace.
1) As far as possible, pick the naturally tri-coloured food combos so that they don't upset your body. For example, a carrot poriyal-white rice-palak combination on your plate can be elegant and nutritious for your body. Similarly, vegetable salads featuring these colours can be appealing to the eyes and easy on your tummy.
2) If your celebration food is sourced from a bakery, ask about the ingredients to understand the kind of food colour that has gone into the baked good, other ingredients used to make them, the possibility of potential allergens as ingredients, expiry dates, the possibility of any spoilage and how it was stored. Also, consume sweets in moderation to avoid consuming high calories.
3) If your choice of celebration food is a tri-colour drink, alongside understanding its ingredients and quality, see whether they are layered following safety practices. Also, drink the layered drinks soon after preparation to maintain the visual appeal and to be sure that the ingredients are still fresh. Also, visually inspect the drink to see whether there is a possibility of any contamination.
4) Avoid consuming fruits used for tri-colour decoration alongside food items. Fruits can spoil quickly, especially when exposed to air for a long time after slicing them up. There is also the risk of cross-contamination if they get added to other foods. If at all you want to use fruits and also eat them, choose long-lasting and fresh fruits.