Health and Wellness Center helps Warren members 'Crews into Shape'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dan Gage
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  March is National Nutrition Month, and to help Warren members improve their eating habits the Health and Wellness Center staff in the Freedom Hall Fitness Center is helping the Mighty Ninety get their plates in shape.

Cindy Mulcahy, 90th Medical Operations Squadron registered dietician, hosted a group of Warren members, including some of those participating in this year's Warren Fitness Challenge, in the HAWC's kitchen to talk about portion sizes and getting all the nutrients the body needs.

"Nutritionists say people need to eat less," Mulcahy said. "What people think when they hear 'eat less' is 'don't eat the foods you enjoy,' which is just not true.

"Add more fruits and vegetables into your diet and make sure your calories are within you recommended limit," Mulcahy added.

Part of the "Crews into Shape" Cooking Demo held in the HAWC was a demonstration of portioning tools offered in the Base Exchange and gift bags containing menus and coupons for healthy diet items.

Most people may not know what a full serving of vegetables looks like, Mulcahy said. With the right tools and the right attitude, one can start reducing his or her calorie intake while still enjoying the foods they want to eat, she added.

For the demonstration portion of the afternoon, Mulcahy prepared a pasta salad and southern corn chowder using portioning tools.

"In order to maintain a healthy diet, it's important to watch serving sizes," Mulcahy said. "Moderation is the key."

A healthy lifestyle does not end when leaving the kitchen, according to Mulcahy.

"Be aware of your choices," she said. "Most people may think to get fast food at lunch, but don't forget about the commissary where you may find a broader choice of foods."

It comes down to the individual, Mulcahy added.

"We need to look at our own diet and find the problem areas and places we can make improvements," she said. "For some of us in the Warren Fitness Challenge, for example, we may be trying to lose weight, others may be trying to maintain a healthy weight and others still may be trying to avoid disease - it comes down to each individual."

Mulcahy also gave advice on starting children out on the right foot.

"One of the most consumed forms of potatoes in America is instant mashed potatoes," she said. "In studies, children who were fed instant potatoes rather than home-made mashed potatoes identified with the instant potatoes as the real potatoes. This is the kind of thing we need to keep in mind when feeding our children."

Those in attendance came away with new information and new tools to help them reach their nutritional goals.

"I have three kids at home and getting them to eat healthy can be difficult," said Tech Sgt. Micki Hinnershitz, 90th Medical Operations Squadron and participant in the Warren Fitness Challenge. "I received some great recipe ideas, valuable information on nutrition and food preparation and the portioning tools are definitely something I plan on using in the future."

This was the second Crews into Shape cooking demonstration Mulcahy has hosted in this month; some of the attendants were repeat visitors.

"I attended the demonstration Cindy hosted previously and received some very useful information and today has been just as helpful," said Eloy Vasquez, 90th MDOS physical therapist and Warren Fitness Challenge participant. "I'm doing Warren Fitness Challenge for my health, and programs such as this demonstration are a great way to learn things that can be used throughout life."

For more information on nutrition and fitness call the Warren Health and Wellness Center at 773-4292 or visit the HAWC in the Freedom Hall Fitness Center.