'Go for green' helps Airmen stay fit to fight

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
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.