Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
For US soldiers, a healthy food revolution
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
World
For US soldiers, a healthy food revolution
AFP - Monday, January 31
Send
IM Story
Print
For US soldiers, a healthy food revolution
FORT BENNING, Georgia (AFP) - – Pizzas, sodas and doughnuts are off the menu at some US Army bases as new recruits are being weaned off fast food for healthier fare, which the military believes will make them better soldiers.
The military's culinary revolution is on display at a mess hall at Fort Benning, Georgia, where the young troops, with their assault rifles slung over their shoulders, file past a breakfast buffet in silence.
To help them choose a balanced meal, green, yellow and red labels indicate the nutritional value of each dish.
Grapes, apples and melon slices get a healthy green label. Old staples such as scrambled eggs are still served, but with a yellow label, Bacon also qualifies as yellow, though it's turkey instead of pork.
Cheese receives a red color code, while pastries and cakes are nowhere to be found.
The soldiers, most of them under the age of 21, seem to be embracing the healthier dishes. After an hour of exercise outdoors before dawn, their plates are piled high with fruit, yogurt and granola.
Before they joined the military, the soldiers had fast food about four to seven times a week, said Lieutenant General Mark Hertling of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command.
"That's a lot of fat," Hertling said.
After seeing the physical condition of incoming recruits steadily decline over the past decade, the army launched the effort to introduce a healthier diet to new soldiers.
"In the mid-90s, most US primary and secondary schools eliminated mandatory fitness education at school. At about the same time, the technology explosion occurred with gaming, people playing with their hands instead of going out running and jumping," Hertling said.
The result: obesity among 17- to 24-year-olds has increased from 14 to 23 percent in the past 10 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And the junk food diet has helped narrow the pool of potential military recruits.
About 75 percent of possible recruits are not able to serve in uniform because of a lack of education, arrest records or mental problems, while about 25 percent are ruled out because they are physically unfit, the general said.
Even among those who are accepted, one in five recruits still need to shed pounds to meet the army's standards, said Command Sergeant Major Robert Boudnik, who oversees the mess hall.
The new regime seems to work, he said. "I've seen soldiers losing 70 pounds through basic training," said Boudnik, still sweating from morning exercises.
For lunch and dinner, French fries, pizzas and hot dogs have been scrapped. Sugary sodas are banished as well, but the soldiers don't seem too bothered as they guzzle down brightly colored energy drinks instead.
The new approach to the mess hall, which at the moment only applies to bases that conduct basic training, has grabbed the attention and praise of First Lady Michelle Obama, who has tried to promote healthier habits amid an epidemic of obesity.
She paid a visit Thursday to Fort Jackson in South Carolina, where General Hertling briefed her on the army's new approach to food and fitness.
The first lady came away impressed, saying the initiative could serve as a model for civilian society.
Hertling said the program was not out to force soldiers to eat healthy foods.
"You can't control lifestyle, you just try to influence it," he said.
After eating with his 200 comrades, 20-year-old Reid Reifschlager, from Houston, Texas, said he liked his new diet.
"It's true, we don't eat a lot of junk food, but the food is good," he said. "Since I'm here I feel more energized."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 51 minutes ago
"Sesame Street" writer Tony Geiss dies at 86 Reuters - 52 minutes ago
'King's Speech' gets double Oscars boost AFP - 1 hour 38 minutes ago
Hollywood actors honor "King's Speech" Reuters - Monday, January 31
Polish cleaner takes revenge on 'filthy' Germans AFP - Monday, January 31
News Search
Top Stories
Protests continue as Egypt PM tasked with reforms
Brain scan can tell if a smoker will quit
Cyber raids threaten British, US stock markets: report
WikiLeaks' Assange 'dressed as old woman' to evade CIA: book
Nicotine study opens path for anti-smoking drug
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
WikiLeaks' Assange 'dressed as old woman' to evade CIA: book
South Sudan chooses to secede: official results
Gulf stock markets down on Egypt concerns
US, Europe wary of Egypt protest contagion: analysts
Nicotine study opens path for anti-smoking drug
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 31 January 2011 South Sudan votes 99 percent to separate from north
Obama presses Mubarak for transition to democracy
US, Europe wary of Egypt protest contagion: analysts
South Sudan chooses to secede: official results
Mubarak meets army as Obama urges reform
Factbox
Oman says busts UAE spy network, UAE denies role
Mexicans vote in drug-war state, look to 2012 race
|
Governments scramble to fly citizens out of Egypt
Israeli court jails Hezbollah spy for nine years
Factbox
Al Jazeera told to shut down in Egypt, signal cut
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"The Rite" leads Oscar-fueled box office
Protests take gloss off dream holidays to Egypt
Facebook founder meets "Social Network" actor who portrayed him
Super Bowl offers chance to party with stars -- for a price
All eyes on SAG awards as Oscars loom
'King's Speech' gets new Oscars boost
British actor Henry Cavill cast in Superman movie
|
Zuckerberg 'friends' actor in Facebook movie
3-year-old boy calls 911 to save his father
The Rite leads Oscar-fueled box office
|
Facebook founder meets Social Network actor who portrayed him
|
Egyptian generals cut short U.S. visit in wake of crisis
Super Bowl offers chance to party with stars -- for a price
|
Woman charged with killing two 'mouthy' teenage children
President Obama urges Egypt's Mubarak to undertake reforms
Ohio sheriff under investigation accuses reporter of harassment for asking questions
Travel alert issued for Egypt; Delta cancels flights
Evacuations begin amid Egypt travel warnings
Egypt protesters camp out, Mubarak turns to army
|
WikiLeaks founder warns of huge leak as last resort
Brain scan can tell if a smoker will quit
Protests continue as Egypt PM tasked with reforms
Cyber raids threaten British, US stock markets: report
Europe's Arabs view Middle East chaos in awe, fear
South Korea rejects North's call for earlier military talks
|
WikiLeaks' Assange 'dressed as old woman' to evade CIA: book
Nicotine study opens path for anti-smoking drug
As Myanmar new parliament opens, junta's shadow looms large
|
Pakistanis ruined by floods brace for more hardship
|
Mexico's left wins western state in setback for PRI
|
Indonesia jails rocker for Internet sex videos
Kazakh council rejects plan to extend leader's rule
|
Myanmar refugee sets himself alight in Australia
China restricts news, discussion of Egypt unrest
COMMENTARY: Bringing back billions in 'black money'
'King's Speech' gets double Oscars boost
Myanmar opens junta-dominated parliament
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea's Park Ji-Sung makes way for younger players
Clinton tries to break Haiti deadlock
Hollywood actors honor "King's Speech"
Indian astrologer held after threatening clients for sex
Toshiba Q3 profit surges on smartphone boom
|
Seoul rejects N.Korea bid to bring talks forward
South Korea rejects North's call for earlier military talks
Myanmar's new parliament officially opens
Czech gender-bending family puzzles sex experts
For US soldiers, a healthy food revolution
Japan output accelerates on global recovery
Singing Swiss bus driver steers for stardom
Seoul shares open down amid Egypt unrest
Transsexual model stirs Brazil fashion show
'The Rite' leads weekend box office
ICBC leads charge as Chinese banks go global
US comic artist Spiegelman wins French prize
Chinese property 'bubble' fuels hard landing fears
British actor Henry Cavill cast in Superman movie
NZ new home building consents drop in Dec
Japan industrial output up for second month
China central bank says inflation still high
Hollywood actors honor King's Speech
|
British actor Henry Cavill cast in Superman movie
|
Sesame Street writer Tony Geiss dies at 86
|
Chirac says he is well despite Alzheimer's claim
Egypt appoints new interior minister-sources
Factbox
Oil price nears $100 on Egypt crisis
'Last' Bloody Sunday march in N.Ireland town
Moody's cuts Egypt rating, warns on government spending
Egypt protesters call for 'million-man march'
Sudanese student dies after protests
Britain says "repression will end badly" for Egypt
Egypt protesters call for strike, million man march
Freed American hiker summoned back by Iran court
|
Egypt protesters call for general strike
Mandela recovering well, but visitor rush a concern
|
EU agrees to freeze assets of Tunisia's Ben Ali
|
Hundreds evacuate as Japan volcano erupts
Japan kingpin Ozawa charged in funding scandal
|
Khmer Rouge suspects seek release ahead of trial
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Syria's Assad says no extra access to nuclear inspectors
|
Asian Cup success boosts Qatar's World Cup outlook
Maliki vows Iraqi bank and election body independence
|
"Sesame Street" writer Tony Geiss dies at 86
Spring Festival burns hole in Chinese citizens' pockets
Kosovo enters hard coalition talks after long wait
|
Swamped Australia braces for monster cyclone
Police make raids and arrests before Moscow rally
|
Two dead, thousands displaced in Malaysia floods
Italians 'dodged tax' on 50 bln of income in 2010
Suu Kyi launches website
It's a cat for the Vietnamese
James Bond composer John Barry dies aged 77
Bond film composer John Barry dies aged 77
China's current account surplus jumped 25% in 2010
Pakistan woos the West with fashion week
Pakistani stocks track global markets lower
China goes rabbit-crazy for Lunar New Year
Asian shares fall on Egypt crisis
Sheen sitcom shutdown could cost millions
Honda Q3 profits plunge but outlook better
Google topples Symbian from smartphones top spot
|
Aboriginal dancers take 'Zorba the Greek' to China
India approves $12 bln S. Korean steel plant
Quiet Uruguay beach town booms with celebrities
Intel finds chip flaw, cuts revenue forecast
|
Pakistan to cut BB services for foreign missions-sources
Taiwan initial Q4 GDP growth beats forecasts
"Sesame Street" writer Tony Geiss dies at 86
New app to bring U.S. art to wider audience
|
ANA swings back to black with $457 mln profit
India demands full BlackBerry access
|
Siemens to take bigger stake in Indian unit
China's CNOOC buys stake in US energy project
More news websites blocked in Iran
|
Management Tip of the Day: Add structure to social media
|
Elpida to buy all DRAMs made by Taiwan's Powerchip
|
Kucinich settles lawsuit over olive pit
Javier Bardem tipped to play the next Bond villain
Early voting begins in Chicago mayoral race
Federal Trade Commission requires new measure for light bulbs
Shipping lines cancel 25 percent of trips to U.S. due to export slowdown
Later puberty onset associated with osteoporosis risk
Colin Firth, Natalie Portman named best actors at SAG Awards
Warner Bros. casts British actor Henry Cavill as the new Superman
Sheen sitcom shutdown could cost millions
|
James Bond composer John Barry dies aged 77
|
California man charged in threat to blow up Michigan mosque
Urging Army for restraint Clinton seeks peaceful and orderly transition to democracy in Egypt
Kucinich settles lawsuit over olive pit
Study: Favorite team losing Super Bowl may be deadly
Captured Somali pirates arrive in South Korea, charged with hijacking
India slams U.S. over radio tracking monitors put on Indian students
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights