New Year's Eve becomes unforgettable not only with the joyful moments spent with our loved ones but also with meticulously prepared tables. However, food safety and health should not be overlooked on this special night.
Emphasizing the importance of food safety in meal preparations, Nutrition Specialist Lecturer Hatice Nurseda Hatunoğlu said, “Serving too many dishes on the New Year's Eve table might be appealing, but preparing excessive food often leads to waste. Furthermore, too much food can cause digestive issues or stomach discomfort.”
Stating that the variety of New Year's Eve tables can lead to digestive problems, Nutrition Specialist Lecturer Kübra Şahin said, “After the meal, you can prefer digestive herbal teas like mint, fennel, or chamomile tea.”
Lecturer Hatice Nurseda Hatunoğlu from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and Lecturer Kübra Şahin from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Nutrition and Dietetics shared important points to consider for the New Year's Eve table.
Meal preparations hold an important place on New Year's Eve
Nutrition Specialist Hatice Nurseda Hatunoğlu stated that meal preparations hold an important place for celebrating with our loved ones on New Year's Eve, adding, “If certain points are observed to avoid any negativity in terms of food safety and health, New Year's Eve will be remembered as an enjoyable meal.”
Raw meat and vegetables should be kept separate!
Hatunoğlu, emphasizing the importance of food safety in meal preparations, offered the following recommendations:
“First, attention should be paid to food hygiene; hands should be washed before starting meal preparations, and raw meat and vegetables should be kept separate to reduce contamination risk. The cooking temperatures of foods are also very important.
Mayonnaise and creamy dishes should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours!
Especially the internal temperature of meats like red meat and chicken, particularly turkey, which is indispensable for New Year's Eve tables, should exceed 75 degrees Celsius. Marinating meats with olive oil and various spices will also enhance flavor and ensure they are softer after cooking.
Mayonnaise and creamy dishes should not be kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If ice is to be used in beverages, ice made with clean water must be used.”
Alcohol consumption should be limited
Nutrition Specialist Hatunoğlu, also recommending limiting alcohol consumption, said, “High amounts of alcohol consumption can lead to stomach problems. Be careful to consume alcoholic beverages slowly and balanced with water. It might be appealing to serve a lot of food on the New Year's Eve table, but preparing excessive food usually leads to waste. Furthermore, too much food can cause digestive problems or stomach discomfort. Prepare meals in a balanced way and try to keep portions reasonable.”
Portions should be kept small to avoid straining the stomach!
Lecturer Kübra Şahin, stating that the variety of New Year's Eve tables can lead to digestive problems, added:
“On New Year's Eve, tables are usually very diverse, but this situation can cause indigestion, stomach discomfort, or other digestive problems in some people. Consuming food by chewing slowly facilitates digestion and prevents overeating. If there is a wide variety and you want to taste everything on the table, make sure to keep your portions small to avoid straining your stomach. Very fatty, fried, or creamy foods can strain the stomach. Opt for lighter and baked alternatives.”
Consume milky desserts instead of syrupy desserts!
Nutrition Specialist Kübra Şahin, also recommending the preference of milky desserts or fruit desserts instead of syrupy desserts, concluded her words by saying, “Consume dessert after waiting for a while after the meal. You can plan ahead to avoid overindulgence between main courses and desserts. Consuming too many nuts, chips, or similar snacks before New Year's Eve meals can lead to no space left for main courses and cause stomach complaints. Instead of consuming too many acidic or sugary drinks with your meal, make sure to drink water. This both relaxes the stomach and aids digestion. After the meal, you can prefer digestive herbal teas like mint, fennel, or chamomile tea.”