Big holiday feasts often mean lots of leftovers. To make sure you
don't serve up harmful pathogens with your postholiday turkey and
trimmings, read these smart food-safety tips.

Turkey Slicing up the entire
bird exposes it to more germs, so just carve the portion you're having
for Thanksgiving dinner. Eat the rest within two to four days.

Sides Sweet potatoes have a high sugar content that suppresses
the growth of most organisms. Cranberries contain an antibacterial
compound. Both can be kept up to four days.

TIPS

• Cut down on counter time. Food should be at room temperature no longer than two hours after cooking.
• Wash your hands when handling leftovers. This way, you won't add germs.
• Reheat only once. Leftovers are exposed to germs each time you
  take them out of the refrigerator and handle them. Heat to 165F before
  serving to kill any accumulated bacteria.
• Store tightly. Use plastic cling wrap or storage containers with
  tight-fitting lids in the fridge to help preserve flavor and keep out
  bacteria-promoting air.

Fend Off the Flu
One in six kids seen by doctors had the flu in a recent moderate flu season, says a CDC-sponsored study. For a healthy family:

Get flu shots.
The CDC says that getting vaccinated is the single best way for a
person to protect against flu. Their flu-shot recommendations now
include children ages 6 months to 5 years.