we get used to keeping track of our food, meal planning becomes easier. For example, if breakfast was fresh fruit, and a bagel with a poached egg, and lunch was a cobb salad, dinner options are very open. If however, breakfast was a muffin on the run, and lunch was a sandwich, a balancing dinner would include a large portion of either fruit, and/or veggies with quality protein. By this example, one can see that each day there are many ways to get the required food groups in.

Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning? Will additional cooking kill the bacteria that may have grown

All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. (Sources: Kitchen Thermometers; Use a Food Thermometer)

Because freezing keeps food safe almost indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Refer to the freezer storage chart at the end of Focus on Freezing, which lists optimum freezing times for best quality. If a food is not listed on the chart, you may determine its quality after defrosting. First check the odor. Some foods will develop a rancid or off odor when frozen too long and should be discarded.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was formed ten years ago to advise USDA on uniform standards for the production of all organic products. The NOSB Livestock Committee has developed standards for organic poultry along with the California Organic Food Advisory Board and the Organic Trade Association. Third party certifiers verify that products labeled "organic" have met these strict standards.

Yes, it is safe to eat chicken and other poultry products that have been fully-cooked (fried, boiled or grilled). Do not eat poultry meat that is still pink or half-cooked/half-boiled eggs.

Keep uncooked products under refrigeration as much as possible. If you are not going to cook and eat the product the same day as purchased, it is generally advisable to freeze it until use. Cooked, left over, meats and poultry should be refrigerated within 2 hours after cooking. If it is necessary to keep cooked meats and poultry without refrigeration longer than 2 hours maintain their temperature at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

No, meat and poultry should never be thawed in the conventional oven or at room temperature. There is greater danger of bacterial growth and food spoilage for food thawed at room temperature. Thaw meat and poultry in the refrigerator in the original wrappings. To speed thawing, loosen the wrapping. To keep other foods safe, put the thawing meat and poultry in a pan on the bottom shelf. For a quicker method, immerse meat or poultry in a watertight bag into cold water. Thaw until it is pliable.

Slaughtered meat and poultry should be put under refrigeration (32 - 36°F) immediately to remove animal heat from the carcass. Prompt and thorough chilling is important to reduce bacterial growth and decrease the action of enzymes which can lower the quality. Bone souring in beef and pork may also occur if carcasses are not properly chilled. Chill pork, lamb or veal 24 hours; beef 5 to 7 days.

Freezer burn does not make food unsafe, merely dry in spots. It appears as grayish-brown leathery spots and is caused by air reaching the surface of the food. Cut the freezer-burned portions away either before or after cooking the food. Heavily freezer-burned foods may have to be discarded for quality reasons.

No, our meat is not certified organic (with the exception of some of our poultry products). Organic products must comply with very strict USDA guidelines and producers must follow livestock-management regimens that meet the criteria for organic certification through the USDA. You can find the USDA's labeling guidelines for organic and other products at www.usda.gov.

We were voted America's #1 Yogurt by the American Cheese Society in 2005 and 2006. Our dairy products are 100% grass-fed

We currently do not carry certified organic meat. We do not have any producers in our area that raise enough certified organic animals to supply us.

America's food is among the safest in the world. But bacteria are everywhere, including on food, like meat, poultry, and egg products. If food isn't handled safely, harmful bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels and make people sick. There are four key safe food handling steps promoted under a national educational campaign by the Partnership for Food Safety Education called Fight BAC!®. These steps include: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. Cook" is one of the key steps.

No. People from all types of backgrounds have become successful Lenard's Franchise Owners. Lenard's provides comprehensive training and support; but you need a willingness to learn, enthusiasm for the concept and a real commitment to succeed.

No, all mammalian protein meals and bone meals were withdrawn from use in animal feed in the United Kingdom in 1996.

We use the minimal amount of salt necessary for preservation and flavoring. The amount varies from product to product.

I believe, as many leading health authorities advocate, that the benefits of fish in the diet, outweigh the negatives. On the plus side is heart health (believed to come from the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids found in the fish); prevention of macular blindness; and that fish is a good source of B-12 which is an essential nutrient that many people who do not eat animal flesh protein need to use a supplement to obtain.