Thinking outside the box
April 5, 2024
FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. – Building nutritious eating habits has numerous health benefits and typically, we strive to begin the new year vowing to do better. The first week or two may go well; however, as the new year progresses, we may find ourselves overwhelmed with the perceived time commitment this new goal requires.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) understands not only the importance of committing to a healthy lifestyle for our military customer, but the challenges that commitment may bring, and strives to equip patrons with resources to assist them in meeting their nutrition goals. That’s the message from Deborah Harris, DeCA’s dietitian and health and wellness program manager, who holds a master of Public Health degree and is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
DeCA’s “Thinking Outside the Box (TOTB)” is one of those resources. These meal solutions, featured in the commissary sales flyer every two weeks, offer the commissary patron dietitian-approved recipes requiring minimal ingredients which are quick and easy to prepare.
TOTB’s featured recipe ingredients are offered at significant savings during the sales period. These recipes provide nutrition information, tips and always align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans so you can be sure they are healthy and economical.
“Small, consistent changes that fit into our lifestyle will make the biggest impact in our ability to maintain healthy behavior,” Harris said. “Adding the featured Thinking Outside the Box recipe to your meal plan each week is a simple way to make meaningful changes that will be consistent.”
Shopping for TOTB recipe ingredients is easy when using Commissary CLICK2GO. Simply open your sales flyer on shop.commissaries.com, find the featured TOTB recipe and click each recipe ingredient to add to your cart. Fill your basket right from your online sales flyer.
To help with your TOTB meal planning, DeCA has prepared a refrigerator card, available for download on corp.commissaries.com, showing the TOTB recipe that will be featured during each 2024 sales period.
“Thinking Outside the Box” recipes are always accessible on corp.commissaries.com under the “Healthy Living” tab. This library features quick and easy, dietitian-approved recipes for appetizers, entrees, salads, side dishes and even desserts.
While choosing your recipes for the week, visit the Healthy Living tabs to learn about meal nutrition, the Dietitian Approved Thumb program, food preparation and setting nutrition goals.
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About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.
Article Source: ‘THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX’: The commissaries' online meal solutions help patrons build consistent healthy-eating patterns, saving money in the process