Posted on Jul 20, 2014
Does the Army and/or DoD have a responsibility to provide special food/menus for dietary restrictions or preferences?
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Such as vegan and gluten free?
Posted in these groups: 
Food Service
92G: Food Service Specialist922A: Food Service Technician
Health
Food Service 92G: Food Service Specialist922A: Food Service Technician Health
Posted >1 y ago
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Chief, I am assuming you are asking not to hear the AR repeated that you probably know like the back of your hand, but philosophically...should the Army be catering to "special" diets that are fads or lifestyle choices (as severe allergies to common food items tend to be disqualifying).
No, I do not think that the military should have a responsibility to provide gluten-free, lactose-free, "cruelty"-free, carb-free, sugar-free, etc meal options. I include demanding that your food be cooked separately in this same category.
As a vegetarian Jew, it was always up to me to figure it out, even though technically, by regs, my meals should have been provided (I personally felt that the reg covered the issues as independent - I disagree it can be extrapolated to mean I should be provided vegetarian Kosher meals). I ate grilled cheese sandwiches made on the same grill as hamburgers. I ate plain (flavorless) egg noodles as my entire meal many, many times. I took the duty of unloading MRE boxes so that I could be sure to get a vegetarian meal (and not that inedible veggie burger), which by the way are some of the most popular meals...maybe there's a lesson learned there: people would rather have no meat, than disgusting meat.
I recognize that my lifestyle choice of being vegetarian is a first-world problem where we can choose to turn our noses up at food. When you make a choice like that, it's up to you to maintain it. Don't expect the world to bend to your needs just because you recently discovered Buddha, Dr. Oz, or P-90X.
No, I do not think that the military should have a responsibility to provide gluten-free, lactose-free, "cruelty"-free, carb-free, sugar-free, etc meal options. I include demanding that your food be cooked separately in this same category.
As a vegetarian Jew, it was always up to me to figure it out, even though technically, by regs, my meals should have been provided (I personally felt that the reg covered the issues as independent - I disagree it can be extrapolated to mean I should be provided vegetarian Kosher meals). I ate grilled cheese sandwiches made on the same grill as hamburgers. I ate plain (flavorless) egg noodles as my entire meal many, many times. I took the duty of unloading MRE boxes so that I could be sure to get a vegetarian meal (and not that inedible veggie burger), which by the way are some of the most popular meals...maybe there's a lesson learned there: people would rather have no meat, than disgusting meat.
I recognize that my lifestyle choice of being vegetarian is a first-world problem where we can choose to turn our noses up at food. When you make a choice like that, it's up to you to maintain it. Don't expect the world to bend to your needs just because you recently discovered Buddha, Dr. Oz, or P-90X.
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PO1 John Miller
CPT (Join to see), I had many Shipmates who were vegetarians, vegans, and religions with certain dietary restrictions: Jews (though I believe you're the first vegetarian Jew I've met, LOL) and Catholics on Good Friday. For the most part they were able to make due with the food provided to (mostly) satisfy their lifestyle or religion. They made liberal use of the salad bar and had plenty of PB & J sandwiches (unless they followed a gluten free diet). A few people even special ordered instant type foods that didn't need to be cooked or had special storage requirements.
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Chief,
I do not believe the Army should cater to people for their own choices, i have however had soldiers put on special diets by their doctors, the commander submitted a memo to the chow hall and they provided him special meals for they duration of the diet.
For temporary medical reasons i think the Army should help if possible, for personal reasons the Army should not.
I do not believe the Army should cater to people for their own choices, i have however had soldiers put on special diets by their doctors, the commander submitted a memo to the chow hall and they provided him special meals for they duration of the diet.
For temporary medical reasons i think the Army should help if possible, for personal reasons the Army should not.
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LT Andrew Delionbach
Real classy of you, people want to serve their country of other religions..... And you discriminate just because they are not of yours ?
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preferences do not matter- that is a like, not a restriction nor religious thing. And I have seen meals to include MRE's that meet religious concerns.
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