Cooking outdoors was once only a summer activity shared with family and friends. Now more than half of Americans say they are cooking outdoors year round. It's important to follow food safety guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing foodborne illness. Use these simple guidelines for grilling food safely.

Transporting Meats/Poultry
When shopping, buy cold food like meat and poultry last, right before checkout. To protect foods against cross-contamination, put packages of raw meat and poultry into plastic bags. Plan to drive directly home from the grocery store. Always refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours. Refrigerate within 1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F. At home, place meat and poultry in the refrigerator immediately. Freeze poultry and ground meat that won't be used in 1 or 2 days; freeze other meat within 4 to 5 days.

When transporting food to another location, keep it cold to minimize bacterial growth. Use an insulated cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep the food at 40 °F or below. Pack food right from the refrigerator into the cooler immediately before leaving home.

Thawing & Marinating
Completely thaw meat and poultry before grilling so it cooks more evenly. Use the refrigerator for slow, safe thawing or thaw sealed packages in cold water. You can microwave defrost if the food will be placed immediately on the grill.

Marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Poultry and cubed meat or stew meat can be marinated up to 2 days. Beef, veal, pork, and lamb roasts, chops, and steaks may be marinated up to 5 days. If some of the marinade is to be used as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a portion of the marinade before putting raw meat and poultry in it. However, if the marinade used on raw meat or poultry is to be reused, make sure to let it come to a boil first to destroy any harmful bacteria.

Cleanliness is key
When taking food off the grill, use a clean platter. Don't put cooked food on the same platter that held raw meat or poultry. Any harmful bacteria present in the raw meat juices could contaminate safely cooked food. In hot weather (above 90 °F), food should never sit out for more than 1 hour.

Cooking
Precooking food partially in the microwave, oven, or stove is a good way of reducing grilling time. Just make sure that the food goes immediately on the preheated grill to complete cooking.

Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. Meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns very fast on the outside. Use a food thermometer to be sure the food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature. Beef, veal, and lamb steaks, roasts and chops can be cooked to 145°F. Hamburgers made of ground beef and all cuts of pork should reach 160°F. All poultry should reach a minimum of 165°F. NEVER partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later. When reheating fully cooked meats like hot dogs, grill to 165°F or until steaming hot.

After cooking meat and poultry on the grill, keep it hot until served - at 140°F or warmer. Keep cooked meats hot by setting them to the side of the grill rack, not directly over the coals where they could overcook. At home, the cooked meat can be kept hot in an oven set at approximately 200°F, in a chafing dish or slow cooker, or on a warming tray. Refrigerate any leftovers promptly in shallow containers. Discard any food left out more than 2 hours (1 hour if temperatures are above 90°F).

Cancer Risks of Grilling
Some studies suggest there may be a cancer risk related to eating food cooked by high-heat cooking techniques as grilling, frying, and broiling. Based on present research findings, eating moderate amounts of grilled meats like fish, meat, and poultry cooked - without charring - to a safe temperature does not pose a problem. To prevent charring, remove visible fat that can cause a flare-up. Precook meat in the microwave immediately before placing it on the grill to release some of the juices that can drop on coals. Cook food in the center of the grill and move coals to the side to prevent fat and juices from dripping on them. Cut charred portions off the meat.

Many women can relate to the feeling of walking into a less-than-clean public restroom. Feeling safe involves covering the seat with endless amounts of toilet paper, squatting to avoid making contact with the toilet, shuffling to find a comfortable position, all the while trying to make sure that your clothing doesn't touch the dirty floor. This situation is very common in many public restrooms, but now you can avoid it completely by using a new, innovative product. When nature calls, the WhizEasy gives women the freedom to pass urine wherever and whenever they choose. This soft and gentle device allows women of all ages to urinate into a toilet while standing.

The WhizEasy, is a urine guide that has been carefully designed as a flexible lily shape which fits comfortably to the outer curves of the human body. It is externally held against the groin area. When a woman starts urinating, nature and gravity do the rest. Urine is directed away from the body so there are no flowbacks, splashes or spills, you don't even have to remove outer or under clothing.

Every girl and woman can use the Whiz Easy for convenience in the outdoors or to avoid dirty, unsanitary public facilities. It is useful for anyone who has difficulty squatting, hovering or getting to the bathroom quickly. For the sports enthusiast, leisure user or individuals with various medical conditions, its uses are unlimited.

According to the manufacturer, "the device is highly hygienic, liquid repellant, anti-fungal, spill free, easy to use, small, pliable and externally positioned. It can be used sitting or standing, indoors or outdoors. It's simply held against the body- nature's gravity does the rest." Additionally, this product is CE marked, FDA and medically approved.

Aside from allowing women to urinate in a standing up, sitting down or lying position, the Whiz Easy can be used in confined spaces such as while in a wheelchair or a car or even underground while exploring caves. For added flexibility or in really confined situations the Whiz Easy can be attached with medical grade tubing to any bag or receptacle including a catheter bag.

The WhizEasy is a new product being offered in the SeekWellnessStore. If you are a member of the store, please go to the member specials page for discounted pricing in July & August by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to learn more about the WhizEasy.

Do you experience urinary incontinence? Then you know that adult diapers are not good choices because they are not easy to conceal and can cause much embarrassment. However, many discreet and comfortable alternatives for men are available.

• âfex® is an innovative breakthrough for male incontinence management. Designed by those who have incontinence and tested by urologists, afex provides comfort, convenience, and confidence, while being very cost effective. The receptacle is latex-free and ergonomically shaped for a loose fit and ventilation. The afex collection bag doesn't require tubes or leg straps. The "turn-n-click" design makes attaching simple and quick, plus two convenient stability tabs allow you to secure the bag as needed. The 96% cotton briefs discreetly and comfortably support the receptacle and collection bag. It also prevents the bag from rubbing against the leg. It is both comfortable and discreet. Patients who have used the product report very high levels of satisfaction.

• GeeWhiz® is internationally recognized as a 2008 Winner of a Medical Design Excellence Award; awarded to new innovative medical devices that have demonstrated advances and end user benefits over other products in its industry. The GeeWhiz® condom catheter system is unlike any other condom catheter available. Utlilizing a 3 piece system (GelStrip™, Catheter, SecureStrip™) the GeeWhiz is effective for both circumcised and non-circumcised males. The GeeWhiz is latex free, non irritating, comfortable, easy to apply and remove, incorporates an anti-kink nozzle and a QuickSnap™ connection to drainage tubing. The GeeWhiz has received a very high level of success and satisfaction by both users and caregivers. The GeeWhiz® is ideal for any male suffering from uninary incontinence or urgency. Meets the needs of Travelers, Truckers, Pilots, Drivers, Golfers, Sport Fans, and Hunters.

• ActicufTM - This breakthrough Compression Pouch is a disposable, undetectable pouch designed to help men treat and manage light to moderate urinary incontinence. When placed on the penis, this padded closure gently presses down on the urethra to control urinary flow. Any leakage is immediately absorbed by the ActiCuf™, so you can take charge of your day and enjoy life on your terms...It's a new way of life. The ActiCuf™ Compression Pouch is so discreet that it's virtually undetectable under clothing. And its sleek, portable design makes using public urinals a worry-free experience. Removing and replacing it is fast and easy.

These products differ significantly and not all are right for all users so please read their descriptions carefully and make sure to note any precautions.

If you are interested in learning more about a product, please visit www.seekwellness.com/mystore.