You are what you eat

Abby Olson, 28th Medical Operations registered dietitian, informs attendees of the Better Body Better Life class about controlling the amount of food they consume in the Health and Wellness Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Oct. 10, 2013. The BBBL course teaches Airmen, families and civilians how to better themselves through nutrition and fitness, combining one hour of diet education and one hour of exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alystria Maurer/Released)

You are what you eat

This graphic displays the increase in portion sizes of food from the 1950s to today. The average restaurant meal is more than four times larger today than it was during the 1950s, which is nearly a 110 percent increase in serving size. (U.S. Air Force photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control)

You are what you eat

Geri Seal, 28th Medical Operations Squadron health promotion program manager, explains to attendees of the Better Body Better Life class that the heart is also a muscle that needs to be exercised in the Health and Wellness Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Oct. 10, 2013. The HAWC offers a variety of nutrition and dietary classes to help Airmen, families and civilians to be proactive about their health. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alystria Maurer/Released)

You are what you eat

Examples of healthy food choices are displayed in the Health and Wellness Center during the Better Body Better Life class at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Oct. 10, 2013. The HAWC offers a vierty of training programs to help Airmen not only improve their health, but maintain a high level of expeditionary combat readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alystria Maurer/Released)

You are what you eat

Published Oct. 18, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Alystria Maurer
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The Air Force provides Airmen with numerous programs and resources as a way of helping them maintain and improve their physical fitness.

One of those programs is "Better Body, Better Life," which is designed to assist participants in achieving a variety of fitness and nutritional goals.

"My job is to establish a healthy lifestyle for our Airmen," said Abby Olson, 28th Medical Group Health and Wellness Center dietitian. "Many health problems today can be easily prevented with a proper diet and nutrition plan."

During BBBL, Olson works with students to establish healthy eating habits conducive to their individual needs.

"I help Airmen learn the truth about nutrition and diet myths," said Olson. "I try to get people back to the science of it all - how the food breaks down in our bodies and how our body uses different foods as nutrients and energy."

Olson explained that there are many misconceptions about certain types of food. For example, she said many people believe carbohydrates are bad and that eating healthy is expensive.

"Portions have exploded, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs these days," said Olson. "The average burger, fries and soda meal has increased in size by nearly 110 percent since the 1950s."

One of the ways Olson suggests Airmen take control of their eating habits is with the use of MyPlate, an online program designed to help individuals adopt healthy eating habits.

"I encourage every Airman, no matter what physical state they are in, to attend Better Body Better Life," said Capt. Thomas Foley, 28th Bomb Wing chaplain. "I recently attended the class, and the knowledge I gained really helped me overcome some of my bad habits."

In addition to BBBL, the HAWC offers a wide variety of courses including the Balanced Nutrition, Be Well and Healthy Heart and Diabetes classes.

For more information about classes or to schedule a one-on-one consultation with a dietitian, call the HAWC at (605) 385-2349.