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HP works with mess halls to promote nutrition
By Trevor W. Monahan
A new, nutrition awareness program is in effect at the mess hall of CFB North Bay.
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Small, freestanding cards are being placed on each table and contain tips to improve health.
The cards are updated every two weeks and the old cards are then redistributed to various offices around the CANEX, and Fitness & Wellness center.
Although Health Promotion oversees the creation, and circulation of the cards, the program is a joint effort with the Base medical inspection room (MIR), and the mess staff.
The only obstacle was creating nutritional slogans that were easy to follow but didn't talk negatively about certain foods still offered by the mess hall.
"We want people to expand their horizons and try new things," says Sandra Harkness, director of Health Promotion. "The last thing we wanted was to preach or talk down to people, making them feel guilty about indulging in less nutritional food choices."
Some of the slogans talk about specific foods; others talk about generic serving sizes. Some topics include fat, cholesterol, and metabolism.
"Eliminating ignorance and increasing awareness will help people make smarter, healthier choices (even when they are rushed)," says Giselle McMurray, Nurse Practioner, MIR. "Most of our military community already knows what they shouldn't eat - all we are doing it nudging them in a better direction."
The mess also agreed to include more healthy choices on their menu. All meals for the day are posted on a centrally located board, with the healthy choices emphasized in bold writing.
Those dining in the mess hall can still choose whatever they want to eat, but finding the healthy choice just got easier.
