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FOOD FOCUS: BEVERAGES

Beverages have nutritional value, as well
Coast and another for the West as help service members avoid becoming
Coast. The Marine Corps self- dehydrated during daily activity.
operates its mess halls outside
the continental United States Educating sailors about the
(OCONUS). dietary value of the choices
Sport drink, or electrolyte available in galleys leads
beverage, assortments are to making more healthful
relatively consistent weekly choices and to be conscious
and monthly. Contractors of the quantity they consume.
servicing some CONUS mess Supporting the effectiveness
halls promote customer pref- of choice architecture, Person-
erence by offering additional Whippo cited results of a study
selections of sports drinks, or that DoD dietitians did at Fort
electrolyte beverages, Holladay Jackson, S.C., that were con-
said. OCONUS, the assortment sistent with the findings of a
is considered as needed, and similar test conducted by Mas-
in conjunction with the menu sachusetts General Hospital
planning board and customer that showed patron choice was
preference. influenced by food placement
Otherwise, Marine Corps and color coding.
mess halls typically feature “The Go for Green program
four juices, two waters, three addresses the amount of each
glucose/electrolyte solutions, beverage offered at each meal in
one tea, two milks, and coffee, its menu coding guidelines,” she
plus four assorted sodas, including said. “Glasses are a standard size, so
lower-calorie dark/clear options that any beverage can be put into them.
meet MDRI standards. Educating sailors is the best approach
that supports healthy food choices includ-
CHOICE ARCHITECTURE ing portion control.”
In the future, military dining facilities will guide service Regulations also apply to beverage availability in dining
members’ choices using an updated Go for Green and Fueled facilities. “The military has Department of Defense Food
to Fight color-labeling system. Selection choices may subtly Service Manual and DoD 1338.10 menu standards, which
be influenced by where options are placed, with water and defines the policy food service operations adhere to when
juice more noticeable or easily accessible compared with offering beverages,” she said.
sugary drinks. The Marine Corps is considering choice architecture
“Our dining facilities are changing how we display and in the future to guide choices in mess halls, but not with
arrange our food service products within the DFAC to bet- regard to beverages, which are self-serve, Holladay said.
ter steer soldiers to healthier options, our better-for-you Marine Corps training facility mess halls guide choices
foods,” Smith said. “This is based on the DoD Go for Green with more educational nutrition information than the stan-
changes being developed for all services.” dard Fueled to Fight traffic-light-color labels. “We have started
Serving size for beverages is unlikely to be affected, as Army to infuse nutrition education regarding optimal quantities
dining facilities expect to continue to use 8-ounce glasses and types of beverages to consume within moderation in a
for beverages, which are self-serve. Assortment, however, training environment,” she said. “It is up to each individual
will continue to be evaluated and labeled to guide service patron to make informed choices on beverage selection as
members to the most healthful choices. deemed appropriate by their individual training, prefer-
“We review our beverages for healthier options and label ences and caloric expenditure.”
them based on Go for Green standards identifying those Otherwise, Marines follow the Fueled to Fight guidelines
beverage that are not-as-good-for-you options,” she said. to make the most healthful selection from the variety avail-
“Army DFAC beverages are also part of the meal service able. “Each individual patron has the option of selecting
and expected by our diners.” between healthy and unhealthy beverages as aligned by
Navy galleys consider choice architecture with food and the information provided by the Fueled to Fight mess hall
beverage placement. A typical galley configuration has all nutrition education program,” Holladay said. “Although
beverages displayed together in the same location, and this sugary drinks are not the healthiest option, they provide
makes Go for Green nutritional guidance more important. choices and increase the variety of beverages that are pro-
“This reinforces the need for labeling to guide the sailor vided in the mess halls. There are no limitations on the
towards green or yellow options,” Person-Whippo said. beverage refills.”
—GFS

20 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • NOVEMBER 2017