News>Marshall DFAC serves up 'Go for Green' system
Photos
The daily Heart Healthy Plate shows the healthiest lunch combination available for that particular meal at the Marshall Dining Facility on Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 19, 2012. "Go for Green" is a new nutritional labeling system that makes it easier for Airmen to see the nutritional value of foods in the dining facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Tara A. Williamson)
by Airman Tara A. Williamson
18th Wing Public Affairs
7/23/2012 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The Marshall Dining Facility has followed the U.S. Army's lead and implemented a new way to educate Airmen on healthier food choices at a quick glance.
"Go for Green" is a nutritional labeling system that makes it easier for Airmen to see the nutritional value of foods in the dining facility.
"Green, (foods) they want you to eat that more often, yellow, less often, and red rarely," said Staff Sgt. Felicia Hunt, 18th Force Support Squadron store room manager.
Foods labeled green are high performance foods that can positively impact an Airman's performance, whereas foods labeled red are performance-inhibiting foods that can negatively impact an Airman's performance.
"The new changes sound like a good idea to me," said Senior Airman Daniel Froehle, 18th Communications Squadron network technician. "It seems like a good thing for Airmen who don't know anything about health and fitness. It makes it pretty black and white for them."
To advertise these healthier options, the weekly lunch menu will be printed in the Samurai Gate newspaper for Airmen to see ahead of time.
Also, along with the new menu changes, the Marshall Dining Facility continues to offer birthday meals, deployed family dining and customer appreciation meals.
Birthday meals are served to Airmen in dining facilities once a quarter, featuring a steak and lobster meal.
"From the moment you come in, you're walked to your seat, you sit where you want, everything is brought to you and the Top 3 serves you," Hunt said.
The deployed family dining are held every other Wednesday and offers families of those who are deployed a chance to not only experience a chow hall meal, but a night for single parents to relax and not worry about preparing dinner for the night.
"We know (Airmen) are away from your family members at home and we don't want you to feel forgotten," Hunt said as she explained the different meals.
To see available hours or the next meal offered at the Marshall Dining Facility, check out their Facebook page here, or Twitter account here.
