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20th SFS tackles healthy snacking

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Destinee Sweeney
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 20th Security Forces Squadron placed a vending machine with healthy food choices inside their main building to encourage positive nutrition March 6, 2017.

The healthy vending machine provides snack options in line with 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Health Promotion guidelines to give Airmen the ability to make healthier choices.

“Our mission is to influence and support healthy living, so we’re trying to help the commander’s with that,” said Penny Hardin, 20th AMDS Health Promotion program coordinator.

The vending machine provides healthier choices based on surveys taken from customers and are vetted based on the Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities. The snacks must have 200 milligrams or less of sodium per package and 0 grams of trans fat. Additionally 75 percent of the packaged snacks must have less than 250 calories.
Snacking can help Airmen by helping maintain their blood glucose levels, preventing them from crashing throughout their shifts.

“It definitely can be healthy to snack,” said Janine Reinholtz, 20th AMDS Health Promotion registered dietitian. “The idea is we’re not grazers and we’re not munching all day long because that really throws off our hormones. However, it is really healthy to have two or three snacks per day.”

Lt. Col. Garon Shelton, 20th SFS commander, chose to implement the vending machine to encourage Airmen to snack healthier and invest in their well-being.

“Personally I didn’t know it was an option until the Health Promotion folks came down and talked to me about it,” said Shelton. “As soon as they told me about it I was 100 percent on board.”

Shelton, recognizing the need for security forces Airmen to be able to remain mentally alert at all times as entry controllers and threat detectors, requested a healthier vending option during an annual unit health-fitness status brief. The Health Promotion staff then worked to make it happen.

“Especially in the security forces career field,” said Shelton,” with (Airmen) out there wearing (their) gear, each and every day, they need to be ready to rock and roll at a moment’s notice.”

The majority of the 20th SFS Airmen receive 90 percent or above when it comes to Air Force fitness standards, but the squadron is always looking for ways to help out those that are not.

“If we stick with the same old standard of potato chips and candy bars in our snack bars and our vending machines then that’s all (the Airmen are) going to be able choose from,” said Shelton. “As leaders, it is incumbent upon us to be proactive and put those healthier options out there for them.”

Nutrition is part of maintaining physical readiness which can bolster one’s overall health and contribute to mission success. Making better food choices is one step toward investing in one’s health and helping Airmen stay fit to fight. For more information about healthy lifestyle choices, contact the Health Promotion staff at 803- 895-1216.