Posted on Jul 20, 2014
Does the Army and/or DoD have a responsibility to provide special food/menus for dietary restrictions or preferences?
27.2K
27
12
4
4
0
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
Responses: 7
10
10
0
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.
(10)
(0)
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.
(1)
(0)
6
6
0
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.
(6)
(0)
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 ?
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I have a simple and easy fix if the SM is in garrison and is AD. Give the SM BAS and they are on their own. It will be their responsibility. When it comes to food preparation in the food, cooks might have the ability not to have cross contamination with certain red meats with other red meats and with other non meats like veggies. It could work,
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Only if there is a diagnosed illness/disease/injury. If not, go spend your own money lol
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
CW5 Russell D Campbell
Chief I did find the following website (take it for what it's worth since it's not a *.mil site) that addresses dietary needs of Jewish and Muslim military members:
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/kosher/kosher_soldiers.php3
Chief I did find the following website (take it for what it's worth since it's not a *.mil site) that addresses dietary needs of Jewish and Muslim military members:
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/kosher/kosher_soldiers.php3
Military buys special meals for Jewish, Muslim troops
var zflag_nid="794"; var zflag_cid="1819"; var zflag_sid="6"; var zflag_width="160"; var zflag_height="600"; var zflag_sz="7";
(1)
(0)
CW5 Russell D Campbell
Thanks. These are meals we do provide to servicemebers of these faiths. The challenges for then us the menu options are limited.
(1)
(0)
PO1 John Miller
CW5 Russell D Campbell
Chief I can only imagine! One time during a deployment we had to go a while without replenishing food and we started running out. Our cooks had to get really creative with potatoes (because that's literally all they had to feed us plus the Marines embarked onboard. I'm sure the Marines had MRE's but they weren't sharing).
Chief I can only imagine! One time during a deployment we had to go a while without replenishing food and we started running out. Our cooks had to get really creative with potatoes (because that's literally all they had to feed us plus the Marines embarked onboard. I'm sure the Marines had MRE's but they weren't sharing).
(0)
(0)
Suspended Profile
In garrison ......sure.
On FOB you eat what you get....don't remember them offering fish for me during lent. ....oh wait....I'm white, I'm Catholic, and I'm straight....I don't deserve special treatment......after all i'm probably a racist anyway.
On FOB you eat what you get....don't remember them offering fish for me during lent. ....oh wait....I'm white, I'm Catholic, and I'm straight....I don't deserve special treatment......after all i'm probably a racist anyway.
0
0
0
Is the Army an Airline? They even get it wrong most of the time and we pay for that. I do not see the point of being catered to; what happens in battle? In the Sandbox? A separate MRE ofr each person who is on a diet; Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, low carb and so on? ... No.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google