With a mix of ‘80s music playing in the background, five Soldiers battled it out in a cooking competition Dec. 1 to cap off the Warrior Transition Brigade’s pilot wellness program.
The assignment was to transform food from the Warrior Café into a healthy dish using what they’ve learned during the six-week class.
“We wanted them to use those ingredients that they have available to them every day and create something new out of it,” said Shannon Webb, WTB rehab manager.
The program focused on nutrition, fitness and sleep and was led by Webb and Katherine Bentley, WTB physical therapist.
Army Spc. Ian Crawford made a peanut butter Nutella sandwich on rye bread, a spinach salad with tuna, pretzel sticks on the side, and was the first to have his meal plated for the judges.
“I’ve been learning about the good foods you should be taking into your body,” Crawford said. He said the program has taught him that “food is fuel” and which foods will make him feel better and which foods will give you energy.
His team was awarded the most creative by the two judges.
At the start of program, the participating Soldiers who were in the wellness program as well as the two instructors went to the Army Wellness Center and had their body fat percentage, resting metabolism and aerobic capacity tested. At the end of the class, they’ll be tested again to see how they’ve improved and what areas need more work.
“We want to make sure we educate people while they’re here and whether or not they return to the force or retire, we’re giving them those skills that are important for them,” Bentley said.
The Soldiers met twice a week and received instruction on different exercises, strength training, nutrition, meal planning, healthy sleep habits, emotional and social wellbeing,
“The goal for the program is that six weeks is not enough time to make lasting changes unless they’re willing to apply it every day,” Bentley said.
Army Spc. Angela Tijerina said the class has reinforced things she’s learned previously about healthy eating and nutrition. For the cooking competition, her team made a bruschetta chicken.
She said she joined the wellness program because she’s been more sedentary due to different ailments, but wanted to get active again.
The wellness program gave her a different outlook on her situation as she’s worked with Wounded Warriors.
“Seeing how they’ve struggled and how they’re overcoming it gives me motivation that ‘Hey, I can do this too’ and stop with the ‘woe is me.’”
She made a bruschetta chicken during the competition with her teammate Army Spc. Justis Mershon.
Mershon said he doesn’t get a lot of chances to cook, so taking the class helped him find things to make that are healthy. Other aspects of the class he liked were the hike to Great Falls and the yoga instruction. Their team won best presentation.
Sgt. 1st Class Charlie Cole said he joined the class because he wanted to drop 30 pounds.
“I incorporated the wellness program into a workout routine as well as a healthy diet so I could learn more and have fun with fellow Soldiers and learn more about food,” Cole said.
His team made a broccoli cheese chicken pasta casserole served with a smoothie. He was on the phone with his wife during the competition so she could give him some pointers on the dish she helped him create. His team won best-tasting dish.
“I think the program in itself is comprehensive in the spectrum of health, wellness and fitness,” Cole said. “It’s a really good approach. I hope the program is successful in the future.”
| Date Taken: | 12.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2016 08:42 |
| Story ID: | 217026 |
| Location: | BETHESDA, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, WTB Pilot Wellness Program Teaches Soldiers Healthy Habits, by Andrew Damstedt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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