JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The Health and Wellness Center here is forging ahead with the Better Food, Better Bodies campaign to inform the base community of their nutritional needs through three primary programs: Go for Green, Operation "BeFit" and Army and Air Force Exchange Service vending machines with "Fit Pick" decals.
"Better Foods, Better Bodies is a nutrition-awareness campaign we piloted for the Air Force last year to make our Airman and their families aware of all the different nutritional options we have on base," Sylvia Goff, HAWC director said.
The World Health Organization says the rise in obesity, worldwide, is a major public health challenge. People of all ages and backgrounds face this form of malnutrition. Consequentially, rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other diet-related conditions are escalating.
"A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risks of heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer and diabetes, and can also help maintain a healthy weight," Goff said. Goff insists that healthy eating not only combats these more severe effects, it optimizes mission performance and mental health.
Service members who partake at the dining facility need only look for food labeled with the color green, and go for it, to find the healthiest food options there to better their performance.
Foods labeled green are "high-performance foods," low in calories and nutrient packed and should be eaten often. Yellow labeled items contain medium fat and are more processed and should be eaten occasionally. Lastly, red foods are high in fat and sugar, and negatively impact performance.
Airman 1st Class Justin Baniwas and Airman Elizabeth Chutney of the 779th Medical Staging Squadron, agreed the foods labeled in red and green make a difference in the foods they choose. For them, the red labels set off an alarm of what they shouldn't ingest.
"I know if I go to the left side of the DFAC there are going to be plenty of green options," Chutney said. "I would like to see even more green labeled foods here." Lourdes Seneca, Freedom Hall Dining Facility manager, says the facility works hard to please everybody and the Airmen really seem to like the Go for Green initiative intended to help them think before they eat.
Operation "BeFit" is in place to support healthy eating on the run at the Express shoppettes, and Exchange restaurants offer a wide selection of quick healthy menu items as well.
"Knowing that you are making wise food choices for yourself and your family can give you a sense of satisfaction and personal control over your health," Goff said. "We at the JBA Health and Wellness Center are dedicated to supporting commanders in cultivating a fit and healthy force that is resilient, productive and healthy."
Upcoming March National Nutrition Month Events:
1. Supplement safety at the DFAC - March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
2. Meal shopping tips at the commissary - March 14, 9 to 11 a.m.
3. A Lunch and Learn - March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., members can sign up for this class
here.