"DoD seeks healthier food choices for troops" Topic

"Concerns about the comparative scarcity of healthy food choices on military installations have led defense officials to launch a comprehensive study of dining facilities, fast food and vending machine options, according to Defense Department officials.

Those concerns surfaced in early findings of DoD's Healthy Base Initiative, a demonstration project of 14 sites launched 15 months ago, aimed at enhancing the health of troops, civilians and family members.

A number of factors "have led me to believe that we have a problem with food in DoD," said Charles Milam, principal director for military family and community policy, at a June 24 congressional caucus and public policy forum held by the American Logistics Association…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Don't even need to read it.

Unless they are going to shut down all the commercial food vendors on the bases, unless they are going to overhaul every PX so it does not carry an "unapproved" selection, unless they stop, search and confiscate all "unapproved" foodstuffs being driven onto the base by military that live off base, adn enact strict control over what the commissary sells, they cannot control the options of the military personnel to EAT WHAT THEY DAMN WELL WANT.

I'm sure kale wraps and tofu stix will go over well!

Due to budgetary constraints and cutbacks, we've closed many dining facilities. For those that we haven't closed, we're finding many that have reduced hours," .

& it is then

Come on Mardaddy, don't give the politicians and brass ideas!

I did a rapid train up in the late 90's after 3 years being out. I figured that the one thing that would of remained constant would be mess hall food and was so wrong!!! They actually managed to make it worse in 3 years.

It went from half way decent to tasteless slop that looked like food at best. And they couldn't figure out why no one willingly wanted to eat at the mess hall..excuse me "dining facility". I had better meals out of a mermite from an mkt in the desert!

Well … they, the powers that be, have to try, just like they did/do in the civilain sector in schools, fast food places, etc. … to look like they are taking care of the masses …

I'm thinking the downhill slide started when they took the mess out of the military hands and gave it over to administrators & cooks who are gov union workers.

Should have privatized.

What complete bull**.

The adjustment happened when they changed the cook MOS's from actually cooking food, to opening prepared meals for heating, and turned the dining halls over to PRIVATE contractors.

Before you start smearing government workers, or union workers, with right-wing fantasy rants, you should attempt to learn whereof you speak.

That said, the best military dining facilities I ever ate at were in war zones (both Iraq and Afghanistan), and they were run by contractors, and excellent, because Army was willing to spend the extra money. But the soldiers complained, as soldiers will, because when you only have one option, after time you will dislike that one option. It's human nature.

Perhaps someone should mention it to Michelle, since the school lunch program has been such a succes……

AF Dining Facilities have been privatized for years, and most are closing. Most of the young airmen on base prefer to heat up TV dinners in their rooms than go to the dining facility.

When the facilities were run by the Government, the food was good (tasting) and cheap.

tuscaloosa, tut, tut…

First off – HEY! You agree with me! The change from the military cooks to, "someone else," is where it started!!

So we are of like mind. It's great to agree on something we both witnessed and experienced, isn't it?

Next… We diverge… Your experience at the various locations you were was obviously different from my own experiences. I retired in 2004. Been a lot of years passed, so maybe things have switch about since then. Does not mean I am wrong, or that you are the ONLY possible one that can be correct.

Notice how reasonable? I am considering the possibility that there may be more to this, instead of summarily dismissing you completely as having a fantasy rant and bringing political assumptions into the mix?

I'd suggest taking notes on how NOT to jump to conclusions, how TO concede that your own experiences are not the end all of possibilities, and how to be a tad more civil in the manner in which you address those you disagree with instead of just defaulting to assuming and blaming someones politics for something that has NOTHING TO DO WITH RIGHT/LEFT WING.

But hey, that might make one uncomfortable, so the option of ignore or stifle is always there.

I agree with tuscaloosa. Best food I ever had in the Army was by contractors in a war zone. By FAR the best.

Maybe I should add that while the food was good and plentiful, the guys who actually went outside the wire were in good shape but the guys who spent their time sitting at desk were not.

Perhaps they should look at more than the food?

I retired last month. My guys were the health inspector team. Chow halls, mess halls, DFACs and galleys I've eaten in typically had very good food. There was the occasional bad meal or over-reliance on this or that meal specialty in some places. Overall though, they were places where it was easy to get too much of a good thing.

You make excellent points Mardaddy, except for your unwarranted and unoriginal smear of government and union workers.

Another thing about the Mess Hall, was the concept of "breaking bread among your comrades" …

Tuscaloosa-
please leave your political rants elsewhere. They only serve to undermine any valid points you are trying to make.