Comprehensive Airman Fitness: McChord dining facility offers healthier food choices

Published Feb. 9, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The 627th Force Support Squadron dining facility staff is investing in Team McChord by introducing more nutritious choices to their daily menu in direct support of the Comprehensive Airman Fitness culture.

"Nutrition is a force multiplier," said Senior Master Sgt. David Walker, 627th FSS superintendent of Air Force food service at JBLM. "Giving a good variety of food choices in the healthier range is our goal. That, paired with education, will hopefully result in a healthier Air Force."

Comprehensive Airman Fitness was introduced July 1 throughout Air Mobility Command as an approach to better equip Airmen and their families to handle stress.

"It's not another program, but rather, a means to enhance mission effectiveness by intentionally investing in one another," said Gen. Raymond Johns, commander, Air Mobility Command.

The 32 Airmen and 50 civilian contractors at the McChord Field dining facility are working hard to provide healthier choices during the facilities' four daily meals.

"At each meal we offer six fruits, and probably the best salad bar on McChord Field," said Staff Sgt. Scott Alarcon, 627th FSS food services shift supervisor. "We've tried to introduce nutritious choices in a bunch of different ways."

In addition to a variety of fruit and vegetables, the dining facility also offers whole grain breads, fat-free milk, 100 percent fruit juice, low-calorie Gatorade, grilled chicken, fat-free salad dressing, yogurt and more.

"The beginning of a lifestyle change is maybe just making one choice at a time," said Sergeant Alarcon. "If we can get people to grab a juice instead of a soda, and have an apple instead of ice cream, eventually it will just become normal and Airmen will make healthier choices out of habit."

The goal of Comprehensive Airman Fitness is to not only change the way people eat, but to transform their whole routine into a healthier, balanced way of life.

"I think when Airmen start to notice the different food choices, they'll be more likely to not only change the way they eat, but also change their whole lifestyle," said Airman Ryan Baker, 627th FSS food services apprentice. "I've definitely noticed that people are starting to accept the healthier food and make it part of their daily routine."

Leaders are looking into the future of the McChord Field dining facility and deciding what the next step will be in the menu make-over.

"We're looking to add a main entrée to our menu that will be low-calorie and low-fat based," said Sergeant Walker. "We're leaning towards a vegetarian option. Our representatives meet quarterly with the joint base and discuss new products we can introduce at McChord Field."

According to Sergeant Walker, significant improvement has been made in the Air Force's dining culture since he entered basic training.

"Back when I first enlisted in the Air Force, there was much less variety," said Sergeant Walker. "You had your choice between a hamburger and a hotdog. Now, Airmen have such a wide range of choices that it's really easy to make smart decisions."

"The goal is to adopt a healthier lifestyle throughout the Air Force," said Sergeant Walker. "As far as I can see, we are well on our way towards achieving that goal."

For more on Comprehensive Airman Fitness, visit the AMC Web page for CAF at http://www.amc.af.mil/caf/index.asp.