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Keeping fit one diet at a time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jenay Randolph
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Susan Haley, 6th Areospace Medicine Squadron health promotion dietitian, has been a dietitian and nutritionist for more than 30 years, but she has been helping members of Team MacDill stay fit for the last seven years.

"We believe that fit fighters plus healthy families equal a resilient and healthy Air Force," said Haley. "Health Promotion has always been about maintaining health and preventing disease and injury as a way to get a handle on rising healthcare costs."

Haley has always wanted to help people stay healthy by starting with the basics--real food. She helps to improve the installation nutrition environment by collaborating with and reaching out to units, leadership training courses, the Commissary and Exchange with resources and interventions via classes, briefings, health-fitness expos, websites, social media and assessments.

"One of the most challenging parts of my job is convincing people that eating healthy can be tasty and satisfying," explains Haley. "On the other hand, it is rewarding to help our beneficiaries maintain a high quality of life and sense of well-being by providing coaching, guidance and resources for high quality food, healthy weight, physical activity and tobacco cessation."

Haley assists in promoting responsible and informed dietary supplement use, providing performance and sports nutrition guidance, along with providing medical nutrition therapy as part of a balanced portfolio that includes community engagement as well.

As part of Comprehensive Airman Fitness, Haley helps support the physical, mental, spiritual and social health of all Airmen, either directly with programs and outreach or indirectly by supporting other base agencies.

"I am a nutrition expert for a healthy nutrition environment, supplement safety, sports/performance nutrition, healthy weight, and disease prevention," expressed Haley. "It's the best job in the world!"