Nutrition for Special Groups

Nutrition for Special Groups 3(3+0)

Lesson 34 : Nutrition for Defense Personnel

Introduction

A healthy diet is essential for military personnel to support overall health and on-the-job performance. The guidelines for a military diet and a diet for the general population are similar, however, military personnel generally have higher calorie and fluid needs due to higher activity levels. A healthy diet can provide all the nutrients a soldier needs without the use of supplements.

A diet for Army personnel adheres to military dietary references intakes (MDRIs). MDRIs are similar to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs), the values used to define a healthful diet for the general population, but are adjusted for calories based on the increased activity levels of people in the Army. A healthful diet for Army personnel focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins and heart-healthy fats.