Celebrate national nutrition month, visit the McChord dietitian

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  March is national nutrition month, a time to focus and re-emphasize the importance of eating right and getting plenty of exercise.

To enhance and sustain the strength of the Air Force, every Airman is personally obligated to take care of themselves and be ready to answer the nation's call. In order to be prepared, the Health and Wellness Center, located in the McChord Field Fitness Annex, provides several methods of improving the physical health and fitness of servicemembers and their families.

"I teach in many different forms, but the most common is when a squadron calls and says they would like a presentation," said Ms. Anna Betancourt, McChord Field wellness dietitian. "I ask them which specific information they would like me to focus on, and that way, it caters to the group's needs. Sometimes they like me to speak a little more about fruits and veggies, or maybe balancing a healthy diet with a good exercise routine."

The dietitian, who's just one part of the HAWC team, conducts not only group briefings, but individual meetings as well.

"When I meet with a client, we develop a very unique program which matches needs and busy schedules," said Ms. Betancourt. "I assess their current calorie intake and some other nutritional factors. Then I work with them to design a specific meal plan and exercise schedule that is both manageable and realistic."

The HAWC also provides monthly classes and meetings to deliver the nutritional information in an interesting way.

"I love to change things up and teach fun classes," said Ms. Betancourt. "We just had one last month for Valentine's Day and I talked about different kinds of chocolates and candies. I did one over the holidays, at the library, about safe cooking and simple changes to make a healthier meal."

The frequent "Commissary tour" gives individuals an opportunity to learn about nutrition outside of the classroom.

"I basically walk them around the Commissary and we have tons of fun with it," said Ms. Betancourt. "We talk about how to identify the good and bad things on food labels. We also talk about easy alternatives to provide healthier options for their families or just themselves."

When an active duty Airman fails a physical training test, they attend one mandatory Be Well class hosted at the HAWC.

"When we teach the class after the failure it usually sparks an interest to learn more about eating healthy," said Ms. Betancourt. "I usually get a few requests after each Be Well class to talk with the person and set up a meal plan. I have a fairly flexible schedule, and I'm willing to work with the individual to help in any way."

The HAWC distributes a monthly newsletter to squadron commanders which contains information about their services.

"The commanders get the newsletter and then send it throughout their squadron," said Ms. Betancourt. "It contains articles about things like healthy eating, new recipes and how to easily prevent sports injuries. We put our calendar in there so you can see what time and date all of our classes are scheduled. And we also include all contact information and websites."

According to Ms. Betancourt, the low-budget classes are too good to pass up.

"These classes are completely free!" said Ms. Betancourt. "Free of charge to anyone, including active duty servicemembers, Reservists, family, retirees, dependents and civilians. We provide an excellent service that I think everyone should take advantage of."

To schedule a squadron or individual meeting with Ms. Betancourt, call (253) 982 - 0531. For any other HAWC needs, like tobacco cessation or stress classes, call (253) 982 - 6947.