Why does the military not offer more plant based options to soldiers in the field?

2019-10-26T10:19:30-04:00

I have been trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle in the way of diet. I find it extremely difficult to get my fruits and veggies in while serving. Being in the infantry I almost never even see the DFAC, so I’m forced to eat what’s brought out to the field. It seems counterintuitive that the Army is not sending healthier foods out to the frontlines where it is most needed.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Oct 26 at 2019 10:22 AM

2019-10-26T10:22:24-04:00

In the field it is more about calories. Maybe you can pack some dried fruit to take along. Also, try the suggestion program

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 26 at 2019 10:23 AM

2019-10-26T10:23:59-04:00

From my experience in the military, you have to adapt to what is going on even with food, eat what is given to you in the field, then when back on base, clean your system out at DFAC.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2019 10:31 AM

2019-10-26T10:31:30-04:00

My best guess would be cost and convenience. We all know food that isn’t the most healthy tends to be cheaper....

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 26 at 2019 10:41 AM

2019-10-26T10:41:16-04:00

Look, Elephants eat healthy, and they have to forage all day long. As a grunt you can do that. Your body runs on calories, for energy, muscle, etc. Haw many calories are in a handful of greens, compared to a piece of beef jerky? We already clutter up the logistics systems with Vegan Meals, Kosher meals, religious based meals. That takes time, mass, storage money etc. No supply guy wants to have to review a BN worth of records to order the folks requested meals.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 26 at 2019 10:53 AM

2019-10-26T10:53:31-04:00

The short answer: Logistics

The long answer:
Unless there is some underlying medical condition, or food has gone bad; there is no such thing as healthy or unhealthy food. A Twinkie actually has more vital nutrients than an apple.

There are unhealthy diets, normally caused by a lack of diversity and balance in the diet. MRE's were formulated to provide the necessary diversity and balance. However, most field rations lack sufficient dietary fiber (fruit and vegetables). Unfortunately, dietary fiber occupies a lot of space and provides little nutrients. However, anyone who has suffered from MRE induced constipation will gladly tell you; given enough time, an MRE Butt Brick reduces combat effectivness. MRE's have shelf lives measured in years and can take a great deal of abuse. Foods high in dietary fiber (fruits and vegetables) typically have short shelf lives and do not stand up to much abuse in the supply train.

There are unhealthy lifestyles, normally caused by an excess of KCals and a deficiency of physical activity. This is the norm for most (not all) Americans who suffer from unhealthy body weight. Field rations are designed with the underlying assumption that the person eating them has a great deal of physical activity. As an example: with the MRE's issued at the time, Marine Infantry units undergoing a winter mountain warfare package were issued 4 MRE's per day, and unit supplementary packs. Weight gain was not a problem.

Response by SN Donald Hoffman made Oct 26 at 2019 11:04 AM

2019-10-26T11:04:31-04:00

Very good question. I would believe you would have to start with your congressman. I don’t think starting with your superiors would be enough.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 26 at 2019 11:23 AM

2019-10-26T11:23:45-04:00

Since you are probably not going to get enough dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables from the food provided by the logistics train; get smart on the local vegetation and forage your own.

If you know you are going to deploy, find out what the locals eat, and what indigenous plants are edible.

I see your from Michigan, this might give you a start:
https://www.sproutdistro.com/catalog/zines/diy/edible-wild-plants-west-michigan-volume-1/

Edible Wild Plants of West Michigan, Volume 1 - Sprout Distro

This zine is designed to give folks an easy introduction to foraging in Grand Rapids and the greater West Michigan area. Whereas other field guides and foraging books folks on an almost overwhelming number of plants, we stick to fourteen plants that are reasonably easy to find: Ramps (Wild Leeks), Wild Garlic, Wild Asparagus, Lamb’s ... Read moreEdible Wild Plants of West Michigan, Volume 1

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Oct 26 at 2019 2:03 PM

2019-10-26T14:03:27-04:00

This reminds me of a situation in Iraq when a DOS guys asked the DFAC Supervisor if he could cook him a special diet. He flatly told him he had to feed 3,500 people and had no time or resources to cook for individuals. The nerve of this ass-hat, he could eat only broiled food.

However, the military does have vegetation MREs which I saw and ate a few of them when I was on the Iraqi side of Camp Cooke, Tali. Veggie MREs; Yuck!

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Oct 26 at 2019 6:04 PM

2019-10-26T18:04:32-04:00

Bring your own food out to the field. If we could figure how to get pizza and cases of beer out to the field. You can figure out fruits and veggies.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2019 9:35 PM

2019-10-26T21:35:36-04:00

You just have a crappy DFAC. DFAC's are required to send out fruits and vegetables with field chow. What they usually send out is some steamed vegetables from frozen state and fresh fruit. It's up to the DFAC how they spend their budget on what food they buy. For instance, one DFAC near me makes everything fresh from scratch.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 26 at 2019 10:46 PM

2019-10-26T22:46:46-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Here is a summary of the regulation and doctrine. It outlines what mix of rations and enhancements are served at each meal. If it isn't in there, your unit's field feeding section isn't going to prepare it and push it and the TISA isn't going to issue it to the field feeding section. https://quartermaster.army.mil/jccoe/Operations_Directorate/QUAD/Army_Policy_for_Field_Feeding.pdf

Field feeding is a one size fits all T Shirt. You want plant based, Another guy wants to eat Keto, another wants four boneless skinless chicken breasts, someone else wants Kale smoothies, yet someone else prefers pizza. Can't make everyone happy. But even if you are eating MMM, There should be some enhancements of FFV, bread and milk. They even have those vegetable MREs, which to me as a carnivore taste like communism and failure.

Army_Policy_for_Field_Feeding.pdf

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Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Oct 28 at 2019 9:47 AM

2019-10-28T09:47:15-04:00

It's all about cost and efficiency my friend... at least we've "evolved" beyond hardtack and "bully beef". Think of it this way-your burning A LOT of calories in the field; maybe two or three times that of what's "normal". Most vegetables are lower in calories and proteins... so it takes "more" to get the right amount. "More" means more weight, more bulk... and more cost. Add in to that the fact that many "plant-based" alternatives to meats are full of fats, and you may not actually be getting all the benefits one might imagine. I wasn't an infantryman, but the few times I did get to go out into the field with them, I sometimes took higher fiber, lower bulk items in my personal kit... shredded wheat bits in ziplock bags,or dehydrated fruits for example. Just my take, but it kept the MRE diet from turning me inside out or yellow at times.