Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Healthy Meals You Can Make When You’re Living in a Hotel

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With suitcases and PCS orders in hand, many of us will be spending our summer nights trying to keep ourselves and the kids entertained, be it a movie night or at the hotel pool.

Healthy Meals You Can Make When You're Living in a Hotel

You can keep your family fed and content while living in a hotel. Here are our tips for healthy eating when you are living in a hotel for an extended period of time.

The normally easy chore of figuring out what to eat, however, often becomes a debate over which fast-food joint or sit-down restaurant to dine in. But for those of us watching our budgets and our waistlines, what we wouldn’t give for a wholesome, healthy home-cooked meal.

What if I told you it was possible to save money and still eat healthy, even without the convenience of a full kitchen?

Keep the family fed and content while living in a hotel?

You can do it. Here’s how.

Assemble Your Make-Shift Kitchen

First, a little preparation is necessary. If you know that you’ll be away from home and want to try to avoid eating out every night, consider buying or bringing an electric griddle and crockpot. Between the two of them, you can cook just about anything.

You’ll also need a large tote that you can push under the bed or store in a closet as your make-shift pantry. Stock it with non-perishable must-have items like cereal, a handful of your favorite spices (we like garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper), a box of your favorite baking mix, a couple cans of cream-of-something soup, canned beans and other vegetables, your favorite sweetener (sugar, stevia or maple syrup) and olive oil.

Toss in a good kitchen knife, a couple of wooden spoons, some resealable kitchen bags and a cutting board, and you’re all set.

Bonus points if you have a small blender or food processor (like a Ninja) and can manage to bring it along. It can make things like homemade salad dressing, salsa, smoothies or even a margarita.

Bonus tip: If you do stop for a quick bite to eat here and there, consider keeping any unused condiment packets. They come in handy and generally don’t require refrigeration.

Plan Your Meals

This is kind of an eat-at-home staple chore, but if you’ve decided to choose homemade while traveling, it’s even more important. The key is planning meals that won’t require a lot of refrigerated ingredients. Even still, be prepared to shop every few days, if not daily.

Not sure what to plan? Here are some easy, no-cook recipes to inspire you.

Breakfast Options

If you have access to a refrigerator, a half-gallon of milk and a wholesome, vitamin-packed cereal can make breakfast a snap. Pair it with a banana and half of an English muffin with a bit of peanut butter and you’ve got the kind of balanced breakfast all the cereal commercials boast about.

No refrigerator? Consider buying the small, vacuum-sealed boxes of milk or powdered milk from the baking aisle. The small quantity of each box makes it easy to only use what you need.

Not a cereal person? Go continental. A couple of fresh-baked bagels or croissants, a little hard cheese and fruit makes for the perfect morning meal.

Wants something a little more special? Try some overnight oats. Just mix equal parts of oats and milk or yogurt. Then add fruit, spice and sweetener: add pumpkin puree, a drizzle of maple syrup and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (like this recipe) or try slicing in bananas and a couple of tablespoons of hazelnut spread. Mix the ingredients in a cup or bowl and leave in the refrigerator overnight (6 to 8 hours) and presto-chango, you’ve got a hearty, healthy and delicious breakfast with absolutely zero cooking!

Simple Entrees That You Can Prepare in Your Hotel Room

If you’re anything like me, warmer temperatures bring the desire to eat light. Thankfully, lighter fare lends itself to easy preparation.

If you have your electric griddle, try cooking up a couple of chicken breasts (or purchase a rotisserie chicken), dice it up and toss it in a bowl with a chopped head of broccoli, some sunflower seeds and a handful of sliced grapes. Add a little bit of sour cream, yogurt or mayo and you’ve got a delicious chicken salad that goes great on a sandwich or is perfect for topping your favorite crackers.

Are you a seafood lover? Fresh seafood is what summer is all about at my house. Fresh fish or shrimp is quick to cook or you can even drop it in a resealable bag with some citrus juice and spices. Cooking is not required. Check out this recipe for no-cook shrimp, Mediterranean style.

Easier still, skip the meat and look to beans for your protein like in this delicious Southwest Salad. Just chop, toss and dig in.

Do you have any amazing meals that you’ve prepared in a hotel room? Submit your recipes to MilitaryShoppers’ monthly recipe contest today.

What to Do if Your Dentist Isn’t Accepting United Concordia

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On May 1, 2017, Tricare dental coverage for active duty, Guard and Reserve families will transition from MetLife to United Concordia.

What to Do if Your Dentist Isn't Accepting United Concordia

Do you know if your dentist will be an in-network dentist under United Concordia? Check with Tricare today to find out.

Along with this change comes many great new benefits, but unfortunately not all dentists will be accepting United Concordia. This means you have some choices to make when it comes to your family’s dental care provider. Below are the things you need to know to make an informed decision.

Should You Drop Your Dentist if They Drop Tricare When United Concordia Takes Over?

First of all, this change only affects active duty, Guard and Reserve families. Delta Dental will continue to administer dental coverage for retirees and their families and that program is not changing at this time. For those that are part of the change, an increase in benefits and lower premiums come with the transition to United Concordia. In fact, no benefits are being reduced.

One important addition to United Concordia taking this contract is that the annual maximum benefit, which was previously $1,300 will now increase to $1,500. Under MetLife, sealants required a 20% co-pay. With United Concordia, sealants will be free.

Tricare dental is a voluntary program. You have to enroll your family if you want to use it. Previously, when a child turned 4 that was registered in DEERS, they would automatically be added to the family dental plan if that family had enrolled in one.

Under United Concordia, on the child’s 1st birthday they will be automatically added to the family dental plan. That is an important thing to consider if only a spouse was on the dental plan paying single enrollment. On the child’s 1st birthday that would automatically move the plan to a family enrollment and along with that comes a higher monthly premium.

Premiums are going down under United Concordia. You can view the chart at Tricare.mil. While premiums for some programs are going down a small amount, others will see significant savings. A single enrollment for the dependent of an active duty service member currently pays $11.68 a month, but as of May it will decrease to $11.10. That isn’t much of a savings, but an active duty family plan does have a better rate. That premium drops from $34.68 to $28.87 under United Concordia.

That’s all great, but what if the dentist you visit no longer accepts your insurance once United Concordia takes over in May?

Some dentists will no longer be accepting Tricare dental since reimbursement rates are much lower for them with United Concordia.

Dr. Adams, a dentist in Hampton Roads, Va., sees his share of military families, but says he will be losing money if he continues to do so come May. According to him, the reimbursement from United Concordia will be 15% lower than it was with MetLife.

What should you do if your dentist drops Tricare?

You can visit any dentist you want with Tricare dental, but it might cost you more. There are 330,000 network dentists with United Concordia. You can therefore, stay with your current dentist and pay out of pocket or you can search for a new dentist. You can search for a dentist online or call United Concordia customer service at 1-844-653-4061.

It is important to check if your dentist is in network. If they are not, but accept some payment from United Concordia, they might bill you for the difference in what United Concordia does not cover. Don’t get stuck with a bill. A dentist that is in network cannot bill you for any difference in payment.

Any member of your family can see any dentist; you don’t all have to go to the same practice. If there are multiple providers, you will need to check that the one you are seeing is in network. There can be several dentists in an office, each choosing to accept Tricare or not.

The dentist you choose to see may not know everything that is covered by United Concordia. You can log into your account online to see what is covered before authorizing any procedures. You will not have to file a claim if you see a dentist in network; they will do it for you.

Sticking with a dentist that is in network can save you a lot of money. Call your dentist or check online to see if they will be in the network come May.

If not, ask friends for referrals to other dentists and try someone new. If you are set on staying with your current dentist, make sure you ask how much procedures will cost before you authorize them.

For more information about the United Concordia dental contract, visit Tricare.mil.

8 Alternatives to Putting Candy in Your Kid’s Easter Basket

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Cute little chocolate bunnies and peanut butter filled eggs are taunting you with every trip to the commissary. “Pick me,” they cry. “Put me in the Easter basket this year!”

Instead of getting your kids all sugared up at zero dark thirty, fill their baskets with non-candy treats! Here are 8 great things to grab that will last longer than the black jelly beans.

8 Alternatives to Putting Candy in Your Kid's Easter Basket

What do you put in your child’s Easter basket?

8 Alternatives to Putting Candy in Your Kid’s Easter Basket

Books

This is perfect for kids of all ages! From the touch and feel books for babies to chapter book for the older ones, everyone can use a new book.

Plus, there are so many directions you could take this. You could stick to Easter theme books with bunnies and Bible stories. Or go with a general spring theme, which opens up all those books about farming, baseball and flowers. Choose a book from a series your child loves, which could lead you into giving the sequels for other celebrations. Finally, just go nuts at the bookstore and grab anything that you think your kiddos would read.

Bubbles

Nothing says spring like tiny bubbles floating on a gentle breeze. And bubbles can keep children entertained while you hide the eggs for the hunt too. As an added bonus, bubbles and bubble accessories are usually pretty inexpensive. This means you can really stock up with different wands and automatic bubble-making toys.

Plus, bubbles are basically just soap. Which will make cleaning that face full of chocolate even easier!

Sidewalk Chalk

The sidewalks are probably clear of snow up north and it hasn’t gotten unbearably hot yet in the south. It’s the perfect time for sidewalk chalk! Kids are universally in love with chalk. They can create huge masterpieces with complex colors or draw up a quick game of hopscotch.

Kites

Spring is a perfect time to go fly a kite! Kites are everywhere right now, making it easy to pick one up. They also come in a variety of styles and at different price points. There are very affordable plastic varieties sold at drugstores everywhere. You could also go bigger and snag a fabric kite that might last a few seasons. Finally, there are very fancy kites that come with all sorts of bells and whistles.

Craft Kits

Instead of getting sticky fingers on Easter Sunday, your kids could be creating beautiful necklaces or putting together dinosaurs! There are craft kits in a variety of interest areas available for kids from preschool to college. Crafts can also help to keep everyone occupied during dinner prep or wake you from your post-feast daze.

And crafts can bring people of different generations together. Grandparents, aunts or uncles might want to pitch in when your little one starts to test his catapult kit!

Coloring Books

Coloring books are all the rage right now. There are complex, beautiful designs for older kids and adults, as well as the classics for the younger crowd. You’ll get major bonus points if your coloring books include stickers or have activities to complete. Throw in a new pack of crayons in the Easter basket and you’re golden!

Journals

Instead of the traditional blank notebook, check out unjournals or guided journals. These give you a prompt or ask you to finish a picture. These go beyond the basics of recording your thoughts and ask users to stretch their minds or think outside the box.

Puzzles

Like books, you could go any direction with puzzles. And they are perfect for every age group! There are the toddler puzzles with those chunky handles for littler kids. Or challenge your family with a 5,000-piece color gradient puzzle. There are also tons of puzzles in the middle. Pick a puzzle of a favorite piece of art or order your own puzzle made from a family photo. Grab some puzzle glue and a frame for a beautiful keepsake to hang on your walls.

What do you put in your child’s Easter basket? Tell us in the comments!

Shoppers Enjoy New Jacksonville Commissary

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Wider aisles.

A larger selection of organic produce.

Skylights that provide natural lighting.

Commissary patrons are enjoying their new 64,000-square-foot commissary at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fl. The $36 million facility is twice as large as the older commissary, which means that the aisles are wider and there is more space for specialty products.

The store features “extensive produce, meat, frozen, chilled and grocery departments, an international deli-bakery, a sushi-to-go station, prepared rotisserie chicken and a customer service kiosk with 2 check-outs,” according to a DeCA press release about the Feb. 2 grand opening.

The Jacksonville commissary includes 18 regular checkouts and 8 self-checkouts and a stock assortment of 18,000 line items. Outside there’s a covered drive through area for patrons using Click2Go, DeCA’s online grocery shopping service. Click2Go is currently available at only 3 commissaries.

DeCA Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the goal of the project was to construct a commissary where patrons enjoy their shopping experience.

Here are 3 features that commissary patrons are enjoying at their new commissary at NAS Jacksonville, Fl.

The Jacksonville commissary is the first commissary to have a Living Well Corner.

During his speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, DeCA Director Jeu highlighted the features of this new commissary, including its Living Well Corner.

The Living Well Corner, located in the front of the store, features more than 1,500 organic and natural-labeled products. These items include both frozen and fresh products. For shoppers looking for non-GMO, free-range, gluten-free and no-added hormone products, the Living Well Corner offers the products they want at affordable commissary prices.

Cmdr. Billy Bushman, noted that thanks to the commissary’s Living Well Center his wife would have more choices when it came to choosing gluten-free breads, according to a DeCA press release.

“My wife would shop this,” Bushman said. “I’m excited that the choices for gluten-free options have been expanded. This means more options for my wife.”

Commissary shoppers have repeatedly requested more organic and gluten-free options at their commissaries. The new Jacksonville commissary’s expanded selection shows that DeCA officials are listening to their requests and building facilities that appeal to this demographic.

Commissary surcharges financed the construction of the new Jacksonville commissary.

Commissary shoppers often question that 5 percent surcharge found at the bottom of their receipt. The 5 percent surcharge, which has stayed at 5 percent since 1983, is not a tax. The surcharge is a standard rate that every commissary shopper pays and the funds generated through this surcharge pay for facility maintenance and construction.

Commissary surcharges paid for the construction of this $36 million facility. According to the JAX Air News, “shoppers spent nearly $61.5 million at the NAS Jax Commissary in 2016 which includes a 5 percent surcharge.”

The Jacksonville commissary was built to LEED Silver standards.

Facilities on military bases are now built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The Jacksonville commissary features 154 skylights and light sensors that will reduce energy consumption at the facility. The facility’s energy-saving features qualified it for a LEED Silver rating.

Jacksonville’s old commissary will be demolished  and turned into a parking lot later this spring. Once completed, this parking lot will have more than 500 spots for Navy Exchange and commissary patrons.

The Jacksonville commissary isn’t the only new commissary opening to shoppers in 2017. DeCA announced that the grand opening celebration for the $38 million Fort Belvoir commissary will be on March 30.

Have you shopped at the new Jacksonville commissary? What did you think of it? Share your opinions in the comments section.

DeCA Introduces Nutrition Guide Program

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Every week, I sacrifice the desire to sleep in for the early morning trek to the commissary. They say the early bird gets the worm, but we all know when it comes to shopping at the commissary, the early bird gets the best selection and avoids waiting in long check-out lines. If you’re anything like me, you scurry through the produce section and down every aisle trying to find all the best deals.

At the same time, I am fretting over whether I am making healthy choices for the sometimes-finicky-but-always-hungry brood at home. Meal planning has become a requirement for stretching our food budget, and now thanks to a new program from the folks at DeCA, I can get my shopping done in record time while still ensuring I’m making smart choice about what we’re eating.

In addition to the recently launched Out of the Box recipe program that offers quick and healthy meal options, commissary shoppers can now find some of the best healthy products to add to their baskets just by looking for the new color-coded shelf tags.

The Nutrition Guide Program or NGP for short, highlights the following 6 food categories:

Green = Organic: As certified by the USDA.

Dark Blue = Low Sodium: For those folks looking to watch their salt intake, these labels can help you quickly identify products with 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving.

Ruby = No Sugar Added: As you probably guessed, this label indicates food items in which no sugar was added during production. This doesn’t mean these products are sugar-free. Look for this label on products like applesauce or baby food.

Brown = Whole Grain: These products are made with whole grains and must contain at least 8 grams of whole grain to earn this label.

Light Blue = Low Fat: With lots of rules about what can be considered low-fat, these labels are a great way to quickly find truly low-fat options. All products indicated by these labels contain 3 grams or less of total fat per serving. Additionally, for meal or main dish options, like in the frozen food section, foods must have 3 grams or less of total fat per 100 grams of the product.

Sand (Light Brown) = Good Source of Fiber: You’ll see this shelf label on products that contain at least 10% or more of the daily value for fiber per serving.

These easily-recognizable shelf labels are derived from ingredient lists and nutritional panel values as well as guidelines from the FDA and USDA.

Shoppers will also notice some shelves marked with a thumbs up symbol. Products on these shelves are specially marked as highly nutritious foods good for high performance. These “thumbs-up” products align closely with the DOD’s Go for Green and the Marine Corps “Fueled to Fight” dining facilities nutrition education programs.

Most shoppers find it easy to recognize healthy options in the produce section, but the prepackaged and frozen food sections can sometimes be a little harder to navigate. Currently there are more than 600 “thumbs-up” products, making decisions about what to buy easier.

While you won’t see the NGP shelf labels in every department, you will see them for the following products: organic baby food, chilled meats, baking goods, condiments, beverages, bread, frozen foods, organic candy, canned goods, grains, pasta, and side dishes, cereal and breakfast foods, snacks, soups, and whole grain cake mixes.

The DeCA website points out that these shelf labels are not meant to be a substitute for consumers reading food labels. If your family has special dietary restrictions or allergies, it is still important to read food labels.

They also suggest that by the time you make it up to the checkout line your basket should contain lots of fresh produce, lean meats, eggs, and foods rich in healthy fats like fish, nuts, seeds, olive/canola oil and avocados. The remainder can be packaged items, but try to use the thumbs up symbol to identify those food items high in nutritional value.

It’s OK to splurge on that favorite flavor of ice cream or something from the cookie aisle, but those foods should be an exception to your daily eating habits, not part of your normal diet.

For more information about DeCA’s new Nutrition Guide Program, visit the Nutrition Guide Program FAQ webpage.

16 Military Discounts for Fitness Enthusiasts

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Military discounts are abundant at restaurants and retail stores, but when it comes to fitness products and gyms, they are scarce.

Service members and their families are some of the most active individuals and make up a huge shopping network, yet the discounts aren’t there. We’ve done the research and put together this list to help you find gyms and fitness products that offer a military discount.

16 Military Discounts for Fitness Enthusiasts

Rogue Fitness: Rogue Fitness is a popular site to purchase fitness equipment. They have everything from CrossFit gear to dumb bells to apparel. Their staff includes many current and former service members and their spouses. They ship to APO/FPO addresses.

The Exchange: You don’t need to search for a military discount, just shop at your local Exchange for great savings. Remember that they price match so visit customer service if you find a better deal on the same product they sell.

Gold’s Gym: Gold’s Gym offers a great military discount on enrollment plus 20% off dues.

YMCA: The Y has a program where some locations provide free membership for military spouses while their service member is deployed. Some of those locations also offer respite care.

24 Hour Fitness: G.I. Jobs magazine ranked 24 Hour Fitness as a top military friendly employer. They employ many military spouses as well. They offer a military discount on membership and will freeze your account for you if you receive orders that would place you more than 25 miles away from one of their fitness centers.

ACE: Ready to take your fitness to the next level? ACE offers personal trainer and group fitness instructor certifications.

IHRSA: IHRSA created the Joining Forces Network. This brings gyms across America together to provide free memberships to families of deployed Reservists and National Guard members.

Christian Fitness Factory: A 10% military discount is always available to active and retired military on fitness equipment.

Go Ruck: Founded by former Special Ops soldiers, this company creates and sells tactical fitness gear. They offer a 25% military discount.

Foot Locker: Foot Locker offers a 20% military discount with military ID.

Champs Sports: Champs gives military members a 20% military discount with a military ID.

Nike: Nike offers a 10% military discount on Nike.com as well as at Nike, Converse and Hurley stores.

Finish Line: Finish Line has a 20% military discount.

Again Faster Equipment: They have a 7% military discount on fitness equipment.

Under Armour: Under Armour offers a 10% discount to active duty and veterans on their website and in all Under Armour stores. Online purchases are verified through  ID.ME.

Military Cyclist: Military Cyclist offers special pricing for military families. Why look for a new bike shop every time you PCS, when you can get a military discount online? Military Cyclist is owned by a military family and was designed specifically for service members and their families.

These are a few great military discounts available on fitness equipment, gear and gym memberships. Don’t forget about the fitness center at your military installation while searching for the right gym. Most bases have a gym where family members can work out for free. Sign up for a class and give it a try before paying for a gym membership.

Have you ever thought about making a career out of your love for fitness? Having a portable career as a military spouse is important. Many spouses earn fitness certifications and personal trainer certifications that allow them to find jobs anywhere a PCS move might take them. There are programs to earn these certifications where the cost is covered by MYCAA for spouses. If you are interested in taking your fitness enthusiasm to the next level, visit the gym at your local base. Many staff members are military spouses. You can talk to them about certification and job potential.

Are you a fitness enthusiast? Which of these military discounts have you used in the past? Which ones surprised you?

Why I Think Military Wives Are More Likely to Binge Drink

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Almost every military spouse I know indulges in wine, beer or liquor. Sometimes all 3. And we drink on the regular.

So the study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) isn’t really a shock. SAMHSA found military wives are more likely to use and abuse alcohol than civilians. We’re only talking about wives because there were not a significant number of males who responded to the study.

The study found that 67.8% of responding military wives, ages 18-49, had used alcohol within a 30-day window. Among same age civilian women, 53.8% reported using alcohol. Military wives also tend to binge drink at higher rates than civilians, 31.5% compared to 22.7%.

The same study found that rates for illegal drug use were about the same for military wives and civilians, 12.8% compared to 12.9%. Military wives are less likely than civilians to use marijuana, 5.1% of military wives versus 8% of civilians.

The rates of drinking and drug use aren’t super surprising.

Our troops can’t use illegal drugs or even medical marijuana without risking their careers. Having a spouse that uses is not going to be looked on favorably. Especially since it’s been drilled into us that “our behavior reflects on our service member.” That’s for better or worse taken very seriously!

Drinking is an outlet for many service members and their spouses. It’s a way that we can unwind and escape reality for a little while. It’s almost taken for granted that booze is going to be consumed at military social gatherings. I don’t mean a six-pack either. We’re talking a keg.

For those who ARE taken back by these statistics, keep some things in mind.

We have been at war since 2001. That’s 15 straight years of combat deployments, extended overseas tours and knocks on the door. Put yourself in our collective shoes and try it on for size. Just for a day or a week.

You’re home, alone or with your children, and your spouse is a world away. You know he’s taking fire and if he’s not then someone else is engaged in battle. There is very little contact and every day brings news that another service member has been KIA. That next knock on the door could be at your house. Or your best friend’s house. Or someone in your neighborhood. It could be anyone and it’s going to be someone.

This is the reality that many military wives have been living for a decade and a half. We’ve been doing this back-to-back-to-back. And moving all over the globe, far from our own families and homes. Can I pour you a drink?

The operational tempo has impacted our mental health.

About 10% more military wives (29.1%) report mental health concerns than civilians (19.7%). No, there is no “official” correlation (yet) from the scientists who study these things. This is what I know.

It’s what I understand after moving 4 times in 8 years.

It’s how I felt during and after his year-long combat deployment.

What I know from having 2 children without my mother to lean on.

It’s what saying goodbye to countless friends does to a person.

It’s the experience of working so hard for a career or an education, just to have it yanked away because your husband got new orders or is deploying again.

Military life is not for the faint of heart and even the strongest of us can bend and break under the constant pressure.

It’s so easy to slip into a pattern of having a glass of wine at night, just to unwind or destress or relax. After a day of barely holding it together, it feels nice to have the world get a little fuzzy and rosé colored.

We are tightly wound.

So when we DO get the chance to let our hair down, it’s going to be epic. That means bar hopping, shots or even just one glass of wine too many. Our spouses are under a lot of pressure too. Plus, many units and bases have a culture of drinking, hard.

There are so many events that make drinking easier or even seemingly “required.” Birthday balls, homecomings, hail and farewell ceremonies, retirements, promotions and even just a neighborhood barbecue are all great excuses to drink. After all, it’s a party, right?

Alcohol is one of the leading ways that people self-medicate to deal with depression, anxiety or countless other mental health conditions.

So, a good time brings an excuse to let loose and to hide the way many military wives truly feel. For many of us, that good time comes with every girls night out, dinner with friends or Tuesday afternoon playdate.

We are young adults.

The SAMHSA study found that there were more military wives in the 18-25 age group than among most married women, ages 18-49. When many of our peers are off at college, we’re holding down on the homefront and managing a household. Having both done full-time college and run a household at a very young age, I can tell you that being an adult is harder than taking most college classes. There is no appealing the grade when you overdraw your checking account and can’t pay the electricity bill.

For many of us in the 18-25 age range, this is our first time away from home and cohabitating with another adult. We are young, immature in every sense of the word and still figuring it out. When you add in the other factors of stress, deployment and moving away from a support system, it’s no wonder that many young military wives drink.

Actually, college students drink heavily, too. And they are in that same 18-25 age bracket. Maybe the drinking isn’t quite so “shocking” when it’s framed that way instead.

Here’s take-away: military spouses drink and have mental health concerns, but we don’t do drugs.

It’s your turn: why do you think military wives are more likely to drink than their civilian counterparts?

DeCA Dietitian Encourages ‘Thinking Outside the Box’

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Can I confess something? When my children were young and my spouse was constantly coming and going, there was a time when I cooked everything in the microwave.

Looking back, I am more than a little embarrassed at the amount of boxed dinners I prepared for me and my brood. To be fair, when my kids were young, the internet was still a newfangled mysterious thing and Pinterest wasn’t even a word yet.

Shamefully, I sacrificed nutrition for convenience. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has fallen into the trap of ease versus nutrition.

Which is why the “Thinking Outside the Box” initiative created by DeCA’s registered dietitian, Deborah Harris, is such a good idea.

Harris joined the DeCA team earlier this year and her impact has been nothing but positive. In a recent interview Harris revealed she doesn’t “want to tell people what they cannot eat,” instead she wants “them to be knowledgeable about what it is they are eating.”

And what better place to promote that awareness than at military commissaries worldwide? In the biweekly commissary flyer (and online), she offers healthy and easy dinner ideas that feature specials at the commissary.

Dinner plans and a sale? Nothing wrong with that.

Harris Understands the Demands of Military Life

Harris comes to DeCA with plenty of military experience under her belt. Raised as a Navy brat, 1st Lieutenant Harris served as a dietitian in the Army for 4 years at both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Fort Sill. She is a certified diabetes educator and a maternal child health specialist.

Prior to joining DeCA, Harris was the director of network programs for the Michigan Fitness Foundation. She also worked as a public health specialist for the SNAP-Ed program and worked to help educate students, parents and other community members about nutrition and obesity prevention across the state of Michigan.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

DeCA’s Dietitian Provides Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas

You can find meal ideas in the biweekly sales flyer, but even if you don’t regularly shop at the commissary, you can still take advantage of Harris’ dinner ideas.

Visit the Healthy Eats section on the DeCA website to browse new and archived recipes.

On the menu this week? Stovetop Tuna Mac. Stovetop Tuna Mac is just a handful of simple ingredients and takes about 30 minutes to prepare.

Quick Stovetop Tuna Mac

  • 8 oz whole wheat pasta (elbow, rotini, or rigati)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 12-16 oz frozen broccoli
  • 2 eggs
  • 6 oz nonfat evaporated milk
  • 8 oz sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 5 oz can tuna in water, drained
  • Dry mustard, salt & pepper to taste

Boil pasta according to package directions. Add ¼ tsp of salt to the water and cook until pasta is tender (8 to 10 minutes). Drain pasta and return to the pot along with 2 tbsp of butter and mix until butter is melted. Microwave frozen broccoli according to directions on package.

While that’s cooking, whisk together 2 eggs, nonfat evaporated milk, ½ tsp salt, dash of pepper, and ¾ tsp of dry mustard. Add mixture to pasta and stir gently. Set heat to low and add cheddar cheese, heat until the cheese melts and the sauce is slightly thickened and creamy.

Remove from heat and add the drained tuna to the cheesy pasta. Gently mix.

Serve with broccoli and enjoy! This recipe serves a family of 4.

If tuna isn’t your thing, check out these other great recipes:

Thankfully, I eventually realized making healthy choices for my family was infinitely more important than convenience. With great deals and recipes right at your fingertips, you won’t have to make the same mistakes I did.

And just in case you’re still sitting on the fence, just pretend I’m your mother, whispering in your ear, “Eat your veggies and make healthy choices.”

For more “Thinking Outside the Box” recipes, visit DeCA’s Healthy Eats.

Obesity Rates Among the Ranks Climb to Nearly 8 Percent

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Close your eyes. Picture an average service member.

Their uniform is probably some version of digital camouflage. Their hair is cut short or pulled up above the collar. In your mind’s eye, they snap to attention and present a sharp salute. They are fit, ready and prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice. This is the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine we picture.

But recent information put out by the Defense Health Board suggests a growing percentage of our military ranks aren’t as fit and prepared to fight as we might think.

In fact, nearly 1 in 13 service members could be classified as clinically obese.

Top officials don’t seem particularly worried about present-day readiness, but it’s hard to imagine that a continued upward trend in obesity wouldn’t impact future readiness. As such, top Pentagon officials are working diligently to re-evaluate how services evaluate fitness.

But the real question is how did we get here? How have obesity rates in the military climbed to nearly 8 percent, more than twice what it was 5 years ago?

Pointing the Finger Would Be Easy

Rising obesity rates would be an easy mystery to solve if the same problem wasn’t also plaguing the civilian sector.

We could demonize all of the video game-loving millennials and accuse them of weight-gaining laziness.

We could point our fingers at unit-sponsored potlucks and bake sales.

Or we could vilify the chow hall and demand they stop selling hamburgers and french fries.

But the truth is, while all of these things are factors, the true culprit lies in America’s relationship with food.

America: The Land of Cheap and Plenty

We live in the land of cheap and plenty.

Big portions are like victory banners shouting our triumph over food shortages faced by those who lived through the Great Depression.

We live our lives on an advertising battlefield, hunted by big name food manufacturers and distributors out to improve their bottom line. They offer us the flame-broiled burgers, a bucket of soda and a big slice of American apple pie, all for $5 or less. They play into our self-realized weaknesses and pitch low-calorie, nonfat chocolate bars and cheese-covered baked potato crisps.

Our children (and future service members) are inundated with sugary cereal commercials and foods that are more toys than they are nutrition.

Even the fittest among us are targets for sugar-laced energy drinks and high-calorie protein packs. We have entire TV networks dedicated to decadent foods. We aren’t just in love with food, as a country, we are completely OBSESSED.

How We Got Here Is No Great Mystery

With nearly 2 in every 3 Americans classified as overweight or obese, the perpetual battle of the bulge has been a slow, simmering conflict in our country for the past half century. It is a battle that has made the real-life and devastating effects of heart disease and diabetes commonplace.

Given that the volunteers for our Armed Forces are pulled from our population at large, that they have learned to eat in a surreal world of corn, wheat and soybean subsidies, is it any surprise that this issue made its way into the ranks?

How we got here is common knowledge: lack of exercise, too much stress and highly-processed, highly-addictive foods.

We expect our service members to be a breed apart, to set the standard, to walk the fine line and stand at the ready to defend our nation. And yet, they must feed themselves from the same collective American table, so to speak.

When was the last time you saw a commercial for fruit that wasn’t tied to a bottle of juice?

Where is the Hollywood hunk giving face time to a head of broccoli?

Better yet, when was the last time you or anyone you know took a nutrition class?

Certainly service members are exposed to some kind of nutritional training, but a 2-hour session can hardly undo the programming instilled by a childhood of bad-eating habits.

I am sure that the DoD will take steps to make sure those currently serving better understand the implications of a poor diet. We may see it reflected in the commercial food services offered on post. We may even see food addiction treated in the same manner as drug or alcohol abuse.

But in truth, this will only be a stop-gap for those already in uniform.

If we want to see obesity rates decline, both in our neighborhoods and our military services, we have to reinvent our relationship with food. If we don’t, the consequences to our nation, our military and our waistlines will only continue to grow.

What actions do you think DoD should take to help service members who are overweight?

4 Tips for Becoming the School Lunch Master

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The dog days of summer are nearly complete which means that back to school is just around the corner. What’s our first challenge as we prepare for parent-teacher conferences and report cards? School supplies. We’ll claw through mounds of 3-ring binders and pocket folders.

But while you’re checking off the annual school supply list and double checking the bus route schedule, don’t forget to spend a few minutes thinking about lunch.

No, not your lunch, the amazing, delicious and healthy school lunches you’ll pack for your entire brood each and every day. What? What’s that?

You don’t have time to pack your child’s lunch?

Just the thought of packing your child’s lunch stresses you out?

Getting your kid to eat a healthy school lunch is like trying to lick your elbow? Hold up, don’t worry. You can do this. Here’s how:

4 Tips for Becoming the School Lunch Master

Packing healthy and delicious school lunches doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are 4 tips to make it easier.

If You Pack It, They Will Eat It: 4 Tips for Becoming the School Lunch Master

Gather School Lunch Ideas Before the First of School

I have a hard enough time just figuring out what shoes to wear every day and I don’t exactly have hours to brainstorm school lunch ideas. If only there was a tool that allowed people with this uber-secret super power to share their wonderful, magical lists of amazing school lunches with the world. But, wait! There is!

A quick Pinterest search for school lunch ideas will give you more ideas than you can shake a stick at.

Worst-case scenario, Google “school lunch ideas,” but whatever you do, don’t feel like you have to reinvent the wheel. Learn from those who have already mastered the art of the school lunch.

Quick Tip: If your kids are old enough, let them help you find ideas for lunch. Recent research shows kids involved in food prep often eat better. Plus it’s a great opportunity to talk about what’s healthy and why eating right is so important.

Get the Right Tool for the Job

Now that you’ve pinned enough school lunch ideas to feed your kid until he’s 21, it’s time to gather all of the nifty tools that make packing all of those lunches a breeze. Keep things like sandwich and snack-size food storage bags on hand at all times. Better yet, your budget and the environment will thank you for the purchase of reusable compartment containers.

Check your local Exchange and if you can, invest in several reusable compartment containers so you can pack more than one lunch at a time. Search for containers that are easy to open, easy to clean, and are dishwasher/microwave safe. Oh, and don’t forget the cold packs.

Quick Tip: Want to buy those reusable containers, but have a kid who is notorious for losing them? Try a reward system. A small daily or weekly reward (could be a quarter, could be a peanut butter cup in their lunch at the end of the week) can help remind them to bring their lunch containers home. Plus it’s a great opportunity to talk about being responsible for their things.

Prep Instead of Panic

Nothing can send me into a panic like waking up late on a school day. The easiest thing to fall by the wayside in a moment of fight or miss the school bus? Yep, lunch.

Eliminate the stress and strain (and the temptation to toss a handful of pretzels and an over-brown banana in her lunch box) by prepping school lunches the night before.

Quick Tip: Carve out an hour or so each weekend to prep things for lunches during the week. Boil a few eggs, cut carrots and celery into easy-to-pack sticks, pre-load small containers with peanut butter, hummus or ranch dressing for easy packing.

Don’t forget to get the kids involved. If your children are older, let them chop veggies. Younger kids can help wash fruit or put stuff in storage bags.

Think Beyond the Sandwich When Thinking About School Lunch

Remember all of those amazing lunch recipes you pinned? I’d wager to say that most of them didn’t involve slapping a little PB&J between 2 pieces of white bread.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good PB&J, especially with a few sour cream and onion potato chips squished flat in the middle (I know it’s strange, don’t judge!), but a lot of kids get bored with the same thing day after day after day.

The key to making things perfect for school lunches is keeping everything bite-sized. No kid wants to bust out with a fork and knife, trust me. Try skipping the bread all together. Substitute cucumber slices, tortilla wedges or even mini waffles to mix things up.

Quick Tip: Prepare an extra dinner serving each night. Pan roasted sausage slices with a little barbecue sauce, meatballs with marinara, caprese salad, and sticky rice balls all make great sandwich-free lunch options.

What tips do you have for packing a healthy school lunch? Share your ideas in the comments section.