Healthy food choices help fuel performance and readiness. Armed Forces Wellness Centers can guide you with an individualized plan.
(Photo Credit: (U.S. Army photo by Kalil Kendrik))
The old adage says that an army marches on its stomach, but in today’s military, it’s not just about having enough food—it’s about having the right food. This modern approach is defined as “nutritional readiness,” a concept that helps individuals make informed choices that fuel peak performance.
“Nutritional readiness means when I get a plate of food in front of me, I’m educated about it. When I eat, I know how much I am eating. I know how to feed my body for recovery and for performance,” said Kellie Hundemer, a Health Educator at the Armed Forces Wellness Center.
AFWCs play an essential role in nutrition through their personalized wellness strategies. Their mission is centered on improving health and building readiness by targeting the behaviorally modifiable factors most likely to result in chronic disease, injury or performance issues.
AFWC services are also available for active-duty dependents, reserve Soldiers, retirees and Department of War Civilians.
“We provide education about eating patterns, education about how much carbs, proteins and fats you should be eating,” said Hundemer. “(In addition to) education about energy management because that’s the biggest thing for weight management, nutrition and just a career within the military.”
Because each person’s situation is unique, the AFWC staff develops tailored nutrition plans.
“It starts with a metabolic assessment, a 15-minute test that lets me know how many calories you burn resting,” said Hundemer. “Based on this information, the AFWC can monitor how your body composition changes over time.”
“It lets us know roughly how many calories you’re eating,” she said. “So, if you know you’re overeating your burn for the day, you will be gaining weight, and so on.”
AFWCs provide a range of services to support Soldiers’ health and wellness journeys. By providing Soldiers with customized data and strategies, AFWCs help them take control of their health and make lasting lifestyle changes.
The initial evaluation is an orientation class. After the class, clients then can schedule any assessment they are interested in. During the first appointment, staff learn about the person, their habits, what brings them to the AFWC and how they can support. Staff discuss their current habits around exercise, nutrition, sleep and stress. With this holistic intake, the coach and client can then identify areas for positive habit change.
“We see people enrolled in our program every 60 days so we can change their nutrition plan according to whatever they are experiencing,” said Hundemer.
The AFWCs also offer Health Class topics to include nutrition misinformation, dietary guidelines, MyPlate, macronutrients and micronutrients. Additional topics include vitamins and minerals, water intake, calorie-dense vs. nutrient-dense foods, nutrition labeling, eating strategies and resources to assist with improving eating habits.
Another important part of the individualized plan is the health coach. The coach provides personalized health coaching for Soldiers, Families, retirees and DOW Civilians using tools like fitness/metabolic testing and biofeedback, offering one-on-one sessions and group classes, both in-person and virtually, to support overall readiness and well-being.
The biggest barrier to visiting an AFWC is Soldiers themselves, according to Hundemer.
“Society puts out a lot of perfect diets out there, and so people hold themselves to a standard that is unrealistic, instead of pulling back and understanding starting small is the biggest thing,” she said.
Another AFWC initiative promoting nutrition is the three-color-coded labeling system.
Called the Go for Green program, this simple, color-coded food labeling system used in dining facilities provides a quick visual guide to the nutritional value of food choices:
• Green: High-performance foods that should be eaten often.
• Yellow: Moderate-performance foods to be consumed occasionally.
• Red: Low-performance foods to be eaten rarely.
This program helps Soldiers to make informed decisions that directly impact their physical performance and overall health. You can find more about the program at the HPRC website.
While formal appointments for services like metabolic assessments and health coaching must be scheduled in advance, the AFWC encourages personnel to walk in for information or to book their initial consultation. “Walking into schedule or for information is good,” said Hundemer. For those not located near a physical wellness center, she notes that “virtual classes and virtual health coaching services are also available,” ensuring that everyone has access to these valuable resources.
By supporting proper nutrition for the force with the knowledge and resources to make healthy choices, the Army is ensuring that its Soldiers are not only ready for the fight but are also equipped for a lifetime of health and wellness.
NUTRITION AWARENESS MONTH
March is Nutrition Awareness Month. Take control of your health by making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Learn more at the MilitaryOneSource website.
