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Why the Commissary Bagger Topic Struck a Nerve

04/16/2018 By Kimber Green

Bagger-free checkout lanes at your commissaries are quite the hot topic.

In response to a recently published article about these checkout lanes, many readers wrote comments with their opinions on having baggers or not. Don’t panic if you didn’t read the article yet. DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency that oversees commissaries, is not doing away with baggers at this time. They are simply adding bagger-free checkout lanes at commissaries because customers asked for this option.

We asked for your opinion on having your groceries bagged and there wasn’t a shortage of answers.

DeCA does a lot of listening. When customers make suggestions for changes at the commissaries, they really do take them into consideration. DeCA’s vision is to

Understand our Customers and Deliver a 21st Century Commissary Benefit.

They want to know what patrons would want to see changed or improved upon at their commissaries. When they had shoppers ask for bagger-free checkout lanes, they responded. Commissaries across the country started offering bagger-free checkout lanes alongside the traditional checkout lanes.

Commissary managers receive input from shoppers on a daily basis.

Why the Commissary Bagger Topic Struck a Nerve

DeCA is always listening to your suggestions. They want to improve your shopping experience at the commissary.

One of the popular requests is to increase the natural and organic section. Many Americans are becoming more health conscious. They read nutrition labels and want to know that what they are buying is healthy. There are grocery store chains that offer large natural and organic sections and some that have made the transition to offering only these products. If commissaries want to compete for customers, they’ll need to meet these needs.

Along the same lines, there are millions of Americans that have special diets. Food allergies are prevalent. Patrons have said that they would do more shopping at commissaries if there were more options available for these special dietary needs.

Dairy allergies for example are very common now. While commissaries offer dairy-free products, their selection is still very limited. Shoppers have asked for a larger selection to include dairy-free cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Customers have also said that there are very little wheat- and soy-free options in the frozen foods department.

Another suggestion that has been made to help commissaries keep up with today’s shoppers is to add online ordering for curbside pickup. Many grocery stores now offer this option. Online ordering, like Click2Go, is a huge convenience to be able to order your groceries and simply pick them up.

If the commissary wants to attract more shoppers, online grocery shopping is a sure way to get them.

What many patrons who have suggested this do not know, is that there are commissaries already testing this out. The pilot test done at these commissaries turned out to be so popular that the program is going to continue at those facilities. Hopefully, DeCA will roll that option out to more commissaries in the near future.

One last request is to offer home delivery of groceries from commissaries. Many people have turned to Amazon Fresh and Peapod for their needs. Having groceries sent right to your home would certainly be a 21st century shopping experience.

Home delivery would be a huge undertaking for commissaries of course, but it would bring a large customer basis to the wonderful commissary benefit that veterans have earned. Shopping at the commissary is a great benefit that many veterans and their families are not taking full advantage of. Adding home delivery would increase the number of people using the commissary benefit.

DeCA is always listening to your suggestions. They want to improve your shopping experience at the commissary. Many additions and changes have been made over the years thanks in part to patrons talking to the management team at commissaries.

If you have a suggestion, speak up. Your voice could be the one that makes the changes happen.

What changes would you like to see at your commissary? Tell us in the comments section.

How To Go Gluten Free

01/31/2014 By Military Shoppers

You'll be surprised at how much food you CAN eat on a Gluten Free diet thanks to Heinz.

You’ll be surprised at how much food you CAN eat on a Gluten Free diet thanks to Heinz.

Is being more health conscious one of your New Year’s resolutions? Did you know that the commissary is equipped to feed any diet?

Going gluten free in 2014 doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. No need to break the bank or even shop out in town. Your local commissary is filled with Gluten Free products to help you make the healthy switch.

How do you start to implement a gluten free diet? Here are a few tips on going gluten free from Heinz nutrition website and some great tricks from gluten free families.

What ingredients and foods contain gluten?

Gluten Free Food Marinade In A Bag Heinz Military Friendly

Make anything instantly better with this Gluten Free marinade.

These are foods and ingredients that you need to avoid while maintaining a gluten free diet.
• Barley
• Bulgur
• Couscous
• Durum
• Farina
• Flour
• Graham flour
• Matzo
• Rye
• Semolina
• Spelt
• Triticale
• Wheat

What are safe grains and foods for Gluten Free diets?

OreIda Heinz Gluten Free Food

Get more information on Heinz gluten free foods!

These are grains and foods that are gluten free and can be included in your new diet.
Safe Grains
• Amaranth
• Arrowroot
• Bean flours
• Buckwheat
• Cassava
• Chickpea flour
• Corn
• Corn grits, cornmeal, corn flour, cornstarch, corn bran, corn on the cob
• Flax seed
• Millet
• Nut flours
• Oats (pure, uncontaminated)
• Popcorn
• Potato flour, potato starch
• Quinoa
• Rice (flour, brown rice, white rice, wild rice, rice bran)
• Sorghum
• Soy (flour, soybean)
• Tapioca (pearls, flour, starch)
• Yucca

Safe Gluten Free Food Groups

tomatobasil_24oz_12

Find out more about Gluten Free lifestyles and health with Heinz.

When looking at meal planning these are great guidelines to plan meals based on the basic food groups.
• Fruits and vegetables (in their natural state, fresh, canned or frozen), fruit juices
• Meat, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes (in their natural state), nut butters
• Milk, most plain or fruit yogurt (with no granola), cheese, ice cream/puddings with no cookies or brownies
• Fats: oils, butter, margarine, mayonnaise

Packaged Foods: Look for “Gluten-Free” next to or below the ingredient list. There is no one tip to choosing gluten free packaged foods. Be informed, read packages and do research before shopping and meal planning.

Does a gluten free diet have to be bland? No, absolutely not! Some spices and condiments (like Heinz Ketchup) do not include gluten. Other additions to meals include some vinegars, lemon/orange zest, etc. that can add flavor to any family meal.
Is eating out a no-no? Of course not!

Many restaurants are becoming more flexible and offering gluten and allergen free options to guests. Check the menu online ahead of time and call ahead if needed.

When in doubt go for plain foods (no gravy, sauce or breading) and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure that the food you order isn’t cooked in the same area or cookware with non-gluten-free foods.

Quick Gluten Free Snack Ideas

Here are a few quick snacks for mom, dad or kids’ after school ideas.
• Turkey and cheese rollups
• Fruit tray
• Veggie tray

Gluten Free Tricks of the Trade

Heinze Classic Ketchup

A Gluten Free product you can always rely on.

Are you making these mistakes and affecting your Gluten Free diet?

• Have 2 of any food that may be “double dipped” (dressing, peanut butter, etc.) because cross-contamination can occur from bread crumbs/crackers that may be on utensils.
• Create a “self-serve snack area” where kids (or adults) can quickly grab gluten-free options. For kids, a low shelf or cabinet works great.
• Have a separate set of cookware for gluten free items if your family is planning on preparing meals with gluten as well. Food should be cooked in pots and pans that have not been used for gluten filled ingredients to prevent cross-contamination.
• Be the “snack mom”! For kids’ sports and activities it might be a good idea to volunteer to bring snacks or provide a list of gluten free foods.

 

How Heinz is making going gluten free a breeze:

• A variety of Heinz Ketchup, Condiments and Sauces do not contain gluten.
• Heinz also offers convenient options for gluten-restricted diets, including; Ore-Ida® frozen potatoes, and Smart Ones® Frozen Entrees.
• For people who follow a gluten-free diet, Heinz is making it easier to make the right choices by clearly labeling all ingredients in their products.
• Heinz also offers designated “Gluten-Free” products for peace of mind and easy shopping.

Learn more:

• Heinz Nutrition Website
• Heinz gluten free products
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Celiac Society
• Celiac Disease Foundation
• Gluten Intolerance Group

  • Gluten Free Options at the Commissary
  • OIOpublisher.com

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