Raw vegetables and fruits are a always good for snacking

Raw veggies and fruits can be an excellent snack, but do you know how to keep them safely? Check out these tips to keep your snacks safe. At the store or market: Choose produce that isn’t bruised or damaged. Keep precuts fruits and vegetables cold by choosing produce that is refrigerated or kept on ice. Separate fruits and vegetables from raw meat, poultry, and seafood in your shopping cart and in your grocery bags. At home: Wash your hands, kitchen utensils, and food preparation surfaces, including chopping boards and countertops, before and after preparing fruits and vegetables. Clean fruits and vegetables before eating, cutting, or cooking, unless the package says the contents have been washed. Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water - even if you do not plan to eat the peel - so dirt and germs on the surface do not get inside when you cut. Cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating. Dry fruit or vegetables with a clean paper towel. Keep fruits and vegetables separate from raw foods from animals, such as meat, poultry, and seafood. Refrigerate fruits and vegetables you have cut, peeled, or cooked within 2 hours (or 1 hour if the outside temperature is 90°or warmer). Chill them at 40°F or colder in a clean container. Here is a great snack and something really beautiful for Valentine’s Day:

RASPBERRY BANANA FRUIT BITES

Ingredients 2 cups raspberries 1 ripe banana 1 8-ounce container fat-free whipped topping 1/4 cup shredded coconut unsweetened 1/2 cup graham crackers crushed Servings: 4

Instructions Wash hands and clean kitchen surfaces. Rinse raspberries under cold running water and allow to dry. Line a mini muffin tin with muffin liners and evenly distribute the crushed graham cracker. In a blender, blend together raspberries, bananas, and whipped topping. Distribute the raspberry mixture in the muffin tins. Top with shredded coconut and freeze for at least 45 minutes. Enjoy with someone you love! Be sure to store unused bites in the freezer for no more than 3 weeks. Calories 80

For more information about Milam County Extension Service, please call the Milam County Extension Office at (254) 697-7045 or email Micah Holcombe, FCS Agent, at mlholcombe@ag.tamu.edu.