FORT DRUM, N.Y. (WWTI) — Nutrition isn’t always a soldier’s top priority.
Lt. Kimberly Whitbeck, a registered dietitian at the Guthrie Medical Clinic at Fort Drum Military Installation, said that due to long work hours, intense missions and deployments, service members often skip meals and substitute caffeine instead.
This can lead to poor eating habits and overall nutritional status.
“Many soldiers [skip] lots of food, [take] Consuming large amounts of caffeine or energy drinks [miss] intake some nutrients, [try] They supplement that with things like caffeine, and they take a lot of supplements,” explained Captain Whitbeck.
But the nutrition team at Guthrie Medical Clinic has made strides to help soldiers properly nourish their bodies.
Capt. Michelle Thompson, the clinic’s nutrition director, said it focuses on nutrition education.
“We are standardizing nutrition education for Soldiers across the garrison,” said Capt. Thompson. “So they’re all receiving it right away as they move through the brigade and process it here.”
Fort Drum has a dietitian in the dining facility who assists with meal planning and food quality to meet nutritional needs. Additionally, food insecurity resources have been added to dining facilities. Soldiers have access to meal preparation programs and financial resources.
All of this is extremely important because soldiers from Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division often perform missions in extreme weather conditions.
Capt. Thompson expressed a focus on an “alpine nutrition” program to prepare soldiers for cold environments.
“Being at high altitude not only increases your caloric needs. So you’re not only considering the altitude, but also all the equipment you’re wearing and the movement that creates a better caloric demand and also increases your carbohydrate needs. ” Captain Thompson explained. “So understand that as your environment changes, your nutritional needs will change as well.”
The Guthrie University team said that nutrition can be successful if soldiers are proactive.
“Just making sure they’re properly fueled to go into training, missions, deployments and making sure we don’t run out of fuel, which increases the risk of injury, which is common,” Witt said. Captain Beck said.
“Educating and understanding how to be more assertive at home before you even go into a training environment, and how that has a ripple effect and allows you to serve downrange and then serve. ‘Understanding what a positive impact it can have on returning home and being back with your family,’ added Captain Thompson.
The ultimate goal is to maintain soldier readiness.
