You read the news. There are current recalls or alerts for spices, deli meats, pizza dough, and watermelon. Crackers, apples, and breaded fish also appear in the FDA’s safety alerts. You take steps to keep your mom safe, so you pay close attention to food recalls and alerts.
Homemade is almost always better, but what about bread? Most store-bought breads are enriched with nutrients like vitamin D. Is it better to make or buy your mom’s bread? You want to do what’s safest for her, so which is best?
Homemade Allows You to Control the Ingredients
You have control over the fat, sugar, and salt content when you make bread at home. This is why may feel homemade bread is the better option. You can add egg or milk to boost protein and calcium.
Remember that homemade won’t have the preservatives that some store-bought loaves of bread contain. A homemade loaf may develop mold faster than store-bought. You need to make smaller loaves if you’re composting too much bread.
The other issue with homemade is the risk of flour recalls. There have been several recalls of flour in the past few years. If you’ve made a loaf of bread using flour that is recalled, you’re not lowering your mom’s risk of foodborne illness. You still need to keep checking FDA lists for the items you’ve bought.
Store-Bought Bread Is Often Cheaper
Many breads bought in a store are cheaper. When you add the cost of the ingredients, time, and energy used to run the oven, a loaf of bread from the store is cost-effective. This doesn’t mean it’s the better option. Look at the food label. It’s likely that the bread also contains added sugar and preservatives.
Homemade Tastes Better
Homemade bread often tastes better. If your mom doesn’t love the taste of store-bought bread, you may find she eats more homemade bread. It helps her avoid losing weight and may stimulate her appetite as the bread is baking.
Some Breads Are Hard to Find in Stores
In addition to smelling and tasting great, it’s easier to customize loaves of bread to match your mom’s tastes. If you know she loves apples, an apple cinnamon bread may be easier to make than find in a store. If she loves a French Cheese Braid, that’s another bread that is easier to make than find in a store.
Have home care aides help your mom stay up-to-date on food recalls and alerts. Caregivers can cook her meals so that she’s avoiding packaged foods. With meals made at home, following food safety guidelines, your mom lowers the risk of contracting a foodborne illness. Call a home care agency to make arrangements.
If you or an aging loved one needs home care services near Fair Oaks, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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