News>'Go for green' helps Airmen stay fit to fight
Photos
“Go for Green” posters like this one are hung throughout the dining facility here to explain to Airmen what the new color-coded system means. Green means eat often, yellow is eat occasionally and red is eat rarely. Maintaining a healthy diet is an important part of staying fit to fight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson)
As part of the “Go for Green” program there are green, yellow and red cards are displayed in front of each food item letting Airmen know which items fall into what specific category. Green means eat often, yellow is eat occasionally and red is eat rarely. Maintaining a healthy diet is an important part of staying fit to fight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson)
The 86th Force Support Squadron has implemented a new Air Force-wide standardized program known as "Go for Green." The "Go for Green" program is an easy-to-understand, color-coded system that shows what's good to eat and what items should be consumed less. Green means eat often, yellow is eat occasionally and red is eat rarely. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson)
The 86th Force Support Squadron has implemented a new Air Force-wide standardized program known as "Go for Green." The "Go for Green" program is an easy-to-understand, color-coded system that shows what's good to eat and what items should be consumed less. Green means eat often, yellow is eat occasionally and red is eat rarely. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson)
by Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
6/12/2012 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Many people have heard of "fit to fight" but how many Airmen know proper nutrition is also an important part of fitness?
A balanced diet can help fuel one's body, which in turn assists in maintaining fitness goals.
The 86th Force Support Squadron has implemented a new Air Force-wide standardized program known as "Go for Green."
The "Go for Green" program is an easy-to-understand, color-coded system that shows what's good to eat and what items should be consumed less.
"'Go for Green' program is a new program ... implemented Air Force wide," said Airman 1st Class Brittany Davis, a food service journeyman. "It's a way for Airmen to easily identify what items they should be eating in the dining facilities."
Green items are low-calorie, low-to-no-fat items that can be eaten as often as one likes, she said. Yellow items are a little higher in calories, have a little more fat and should be consumed occasionally. Whereas red items are the least nutritious, are higher in fat content and should be consumed rarely.
Davis said the menu is the same but the program is used to help Airmen realize what they are eating, and visually tells them what they should and shouldn't eat.
"We provide more healthy choice items than we do fried items for instance," said Staff Sgt. Bernaldo Martinez, store room assistant. "We also provide rice, salad, eggs, yogurts, fruits and vegetables to give them a wide range (of) whatever it is that they actually want."
He said they serve a variety of meals throughout the week to meet the needs of anyone who visits the dining facility, with the main customer being the Airmen in the dormitories.
This new program helps ensure Airmen stay fit to fight and eating right, Davis said.
"If there are people going to PT boot camp or struggling with their PT test (Go for Green) makes it easier for them to come in here and identify what they should be eating in correlation with what their workout routine is," she said.
Comments
6/19/2012 4:44:09 PM ET You are absolutely right Dude. Since the government has been promoting this low fat and low calorie diet obesity have only gone up. Sugar is the number 1 culprit here. I consume around 4000 calories a day but I eat whole minimally processed foods full fat foods. I am 5 ft 10 in and weigh 150 lbs. The government really needs to get with the times.
Oliver, Las Vegas
6/12/2012 5:36:39 PM ET This low fat low calorie diet fad should of died in the 90's along with short PT shorts. People need good fat from meats and nuts. Fat doesn't cause fat. Grains starch and sugar do.
