HAWC educates commissary shoppers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Hada
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Ellsworth Health and Wellness Center along with volunteers from the 28th Medical Operation Squadron hosted tours July 1, at the base commissary in an effort to assist consumers in making healthy food choices.

The group toured the entire commissary stopping at the produce section, deli, meat section and frozen food aisles. At each stop, HAWC staff pointed out healthy options to the participants.

"This program was created to support the military community by helping Airmen and dependents to maintain a healthy lifestyle while saving money and learning about healthy food options available in the store," said Geri Seal, 28th Medical Group HAWC health promotion program manager.

Seal said the HAWC assists Airmen and their families by putting them on the right track when it comes to reaching their dietary goals.

"A lot of Airmen set out to change their bad habits, but trying to eat healthy can be a difficult task when [they] don't understand what is really being put into their bodies," Seal said. "We try to teach people how to really shop at the commissary by showing them how to substitute certain foods with healthier choices and what to look for when reading food labels."

The biggest challenge people face when shopping is they do not make time to look at what they are buying, she said.

"When shopping, people need to slow down and properly look at food labels to gain a better understanding of what is healthy and what isn't instead of grabbing food that is quick and convenient," said Seal.

Airmen can save money and eat healthy by shopping with a grocery list, never shopping when hungry, checking expiration dates, using coupons, reading labels, and buying in small quantities when experimenting with new foods.

"The best part of these tours is answering questions and seeing that people are learning something that can improve their lives and pass on that knowledge to their friends," Seal said.
 
"Eating healthy is the first step in living a good life and becoming a better person."
For more information, contact the HAWC at (605) 385-2349.