Tour teaches healthy shopping

Published Jan. 15, 2013
By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The Health and Wellness Center hosted its first commissary tour Jan. 10, 2013.

The tour covered how to quickly identify the healthiest food options available, what to look for on, and how to read nutrition and ingredient labels, and how to efficiently navigate through the commissary.

"I went over the different options available, so people don't feel tempted to purchase unhealthy items just because they're on sale, or better yet are disguised as being healthy." said Staff Sgt. LaTara Wilkins, 52nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron diet therapy technician from Puyallup, Wash. "It's okay to purchase things like chips in moderation as long as it's not in place of healthy items like apples. For example, if I had to give up Oreos and peanut butter I would be really upset - it's my favorite, but I eat it in moderation so I don't have to worry about giving it up."

As patrons went through the aisles, Wilkins had them pick the items they would normally consider purchasing or the items they thought were healthiest and showed them how to compare them side-by-side looking at ingredients, servings and nutritional value. She also shared healthier alternatives that contain less sodium, fat, sugar and cholesterol, and warned that just because an item says its healthy doesn't necessarily mean it is.

"It's important to thoroughly read nutrition labels and ingredients," she emphasized. "Usually when a box says something like lower in sugar, fat or carbohydrates, those nutrients are being replaced by something else, which isn't necessarily a good something else. When something is lower in sugar those sugars may be replaced by fats or carbohydrates."

Wilkins said that her goal with the tour was to educate people so they can make the right decisions for themselves and their families based on individual dietary needs.

"It all depends on the life style you lead," she explained. "If you really know what you have at your finger tips, how many healthy options you have to make quick meals and snacks, and you use it, it will really boost your physical wellbeing."

After taking the commissary tour, Jasmin Duerr, 52nd Dental Sqaudron dental assistant from San Antonio, said she was excited to share the new information about leading a healthy lifestyle with her family.. She also recommended that others look out for the next commissary tour.