Portfolio Summative by

Safety Knowledge

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 13:49:03 UTC

It is highly important to review kitchen safety before entering the kitchen to prevent accidents and hazards. Always know where all emergency exits are located, along with fire extinguishers and fire blankets in case of emergency. Not reviewing kitchen safety can lead to common kitchen accidents, such as cuts, burns, fires, falls, electrical shock, and poisoning.

Kitchen and Food Safety Tips

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 13:55:33 UTC

Grease Fires: I learned that fats and oils are very flammable and to never pour water on a grease fire, as the grease will splatter. Instead of water use baking soda or put a cover on the pan to remove oxygen. Learning this expanded my knowledge of fires in the kitchen and what to do if one occurred.
Recipes: I learned so many new recipes during my time in the kitchen this semester. I learned the most kitchen skills during the pasta recipe. I had never made homemade noodles from scratch before, so that was a fun new experience for me.
Cross-contamination: I learned how dangerous cross-contamination can be and how to prevent it. If the 4 C’s (Cleaning, Cooking, Cross Contamination and Chilling) are done correctly, there is a much lower chance of contamination.
Temperatures: I learn the different internal temperatures that different kinds of meat must reach to be fully cooked and safe to eat. Chicken must be cooked to 165°F, and beef must be cooked to 145°F.
Diseases: Many diseases come from food. This includes salmonella from chicken, E. coli from beef, and botulism from homemade food that is improperly canned.

Tip For Improving Overall Health

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:01:30 UTC

Find healthy recipes: Healthy recipes provide the right amount of macro and micronutrients for a balanced diet. Eating healthy improves gut health.
Improve Cleanliness: Improving overall cleanliness will stop the spread of illnesses. Disinfecting surfaces regularly will kill bacteria and viruses.
Eat a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. This can easily be achieved by aiming to eat a whole food for every colour of the rainbow every day.
Hydrate: Staying hydrated aids in flushing toxins from the body.
Eat more whole foods, and less processed food: Eating processed food too often increases the risk of chronic diseases, digestive issues and weight gain.

Things To Be Aware Of When Shopping For Food

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:13:21 UTC

When shopping for food, it is very important to be aware of food labels, how processed an item may be, and expiry dates. Food labels have important information that tells us how much macronutrients and micronutrients are in the food item. It is also Important to understand how processed a food item might be. Meals like frozen dinners are awful for your health and are often high in sodium. It is better to choose whole foods instead. When shopping for food, always check expiry and best-before dates, especially on products like meat or dairy. It is always a good idea to have an idea of how long an item is good for in your fridge, so it doesn't end up being wasted.

To be a smart consumer, prioritize what you need to buy vs. what you want to buy, research food products, look at food labels to compare items, plan meals to buy what's needed, and be mindful of food advertising and marketing that might deceive you.

Food Insecurity In Canada

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:20:04 UTC

Food insecurity is a big challenge for individuals in our community. I would share with my friends the impact food insecurity has on children, the causes of food insecurity, and tips to help reduce it and its effects. Food insecurity can lead to various health issues, including weak immune systems, lack of nutrients, and negative effects on mental health, causing depression and anxiety. Food insecurity can be caused by various factors. Unemployment, poverty, conflict, climate change, income, and easy access to food are the main causes of food insecurity in our community. To help fix this issue within our community, it is helpful to donate to local food banks, reduce food waste by planning meals and using leftovers, and advocate for our representatives to fund local food programs.

Reflection On Progress

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:28:00 UTC

The Whole Foods Assignment represented my learning and progress best. Creating the ad required me to do research, where I found new interesting information. It reflected all the learning I had done in the unit, including macronutrients, micronutrients, health benefits, preparation techniques, and recipes. This assignment showed my creative potential through intriguing Instagram posts about kiwi.

Food Lab Success

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:29:54 UTC

I feel as if the beef taco lab was the most successful because I remember them being the best tacos I've ever had. I learned how to cook ground beef in the oven when I'd only ever cooked it in a pan on the stove. I also learned the importance of flavour. Our taco meat was super flavourful with tons of seasoning, which I enjoyed. I tried another group's taco with less flavour and thought it was bland and needed something more. I did not realize how the intensity of flavour can leave you so satisfied with what you ate. Different meals and recipes call for different seasonings, changing their taste. I am very glad I got to experiment and find out for myself the importance of seasoning and how it can have a different effect on my taste buds.

Food Lab Struggles

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:34:00 UTC

I struggled the most with lab #9: Fettuccine Alfredo. I was challenged by time and the mechanics of the pasta roller. I was having a hard time getting the dough to the perfect consistency to roll out. While feeding it through the machine, it was ripping and clumping in certain spots. I learned to be more patient, understand the equipment before using it, and always ask for help when it's needed.

Inspiration and Takeaways From The Course

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:35:35 UTC

This course has inspired me to cook and bake more recipes at home. I was shown how fun cooking can be and how delicious the final product can turn out. It has inspired me to try the recipes we did in class again at home for my family. I will always remember how to properly go through a recipe before making it. I will now always set out the needed tools, ensure I have all ingredients, and go over any unfamiliar terms before starting.

Future Goals

selrick2010 — 2025-05-29 14:36:30 UTC

My goals for the future are to improve home baking skills, expand recipe knowledge, and cook a proper full meal without a recipe. I will be able to achieve these goals by practicing with a variety of recipes and getting experience with a new favourite every week. My health and nutrition goals are to prioritize fruits and vegetables, reduce consumption of processed foods, and start meal planning and prepping. I can achieve these goals by adding a fruit or vegetable on the side of every meal, looking for more whole foods when grocery shopping with my parents, and cooking a large homemade recipe twice a week to pack as lunches at school.