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Iwo Jima Sailors Make Healthy Eating Choices
Michael Starkey
USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) are finding it easier to maintain a healthier lifestyle while underway with the implementation of the Navy core menu.
The Navy standard core menu, integrated on ships in October 2007, helps to support healthy lifestyles beyond the semiannual physical fitness assessment (PFA), which encourages Sailors to maintain a healthy lifestyle year round. A big part of a healthy lifestyle takes place at every meal.
"The Navy standard core menu has gone to a much healthier selection," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW/SS) Steve Boos, leading culinary specialist aboard Iwo Jima. "We're trying to get away from fatty foods in general. Every meal, there is at least one healthy option."
Some Sailors have completely cut out the meat in their diets as part of the growing trend of a vegetarian diet.
"On the ship, I am pretty much a complete vegetarian," said Lt. Patrick Lahiff, judge advocate general officer for Amphibious Squadron 4. "The ship does more than I thought they would to accommodate a vegetarian. They have vegetable lasagna sometimes, and they always have veggie burgers on hamburger day. I feel like they have an excellent salad bar on the ship, and there are always healthy foods for me to eat."
Other Sailors are enjoying health benefits by simply reducing the meat in theirs diet while on deployment.
"I have never been a true vegetarian, but I have cut out a lot of meat," said Yeoman 2nd Class (SCW) Rachel Martis. "I did this about three years ago because of health reasons. It does give you more energy if you know how to substitute the right items. On Iwo Jima, I can always find healthy food substitutions."
Sailors say Iwo Jima has done a good job at ensuring healthy food choices are available at all meals.
"Being deployed means a bigger challenge to meet healthy food requirements, but as a whole on Iwo Jima, we are meeting the challenge," said Boos. "The salad bar is always stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables, and the crew very much enjoys it. Even when we have pizza and wings, the salad bar is still a big hit."
Iwo Jima is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to conduct maritime security operations (MSO). MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
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