Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Clear Your Cache

Health.mil has undergone a recent update. For the best user experience we recommend clearing your browser cache.

Skip subpage navigation

Nutritional Fitness

Being nutritionally fit means finding the right “fuel” so you perform at your best. A good diet isn’t just healthy and nutritious, it must also be sustainable. Trendy or gimmick diets can offer short-term success, but often are not sustainable. Maintaining a healthy, balanced, and sustainable diet helps build wellness across many areas of health.

6 Essential Nutrients

Performance Nutrition: Fuel for Body and Mind

Nutrition and diet are critical to overall health. Fueling service members for maximum physical and mental performance goes beyond the basics. The science of Performance Nutrition helps service members get the most out of their meals.

Performance Nutrition

Service members must operate at peak effectiveness in many challenging environments, and every person has unique nutrition needs. By consuming the right nutrients at the right time, you can achieve optimal resilience and readiness. If you’re considering a change to you diet or exercise program, talk with a registered dietitian or qualified health care provider first.

Fuel Your Body

Proper nutrition can make or break your ability to complete your training or mission. By finding the right balance and variety of foods, you can get the nutrients you need for performance and health.

  • Vegetables leafy greens, cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower), bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes.
  • Fruits like berries, cherries, apples, bananas, citrus, tropical fruit (mango, pineapple), and kiwi.
  • Grains and starchy veggies like whole grains such as oats, brown rice, whole grain bread, potatoes, legumes, beans, and peas.
  • Lean proteins like poultry, fish, lean red meat, low-fat dairy, beans, nuts, seeds, and soy products.
  • Healthy fats like nuts and seeds, olive oil, and avocados.

Fuel Your Mind

The right nutrition can also help you achieve optimal emotional, cognitive, and physical performance. When you eat right, you’re likely to feel more energized with better focus, judgment, accuracy, and reaction time. Follow these additional nutrition tips to optimize mental performance:

  • Fuel your body consistently by eating regular meals throughout the day.
  • Drink enough water.
  • Some nutrients, like magnesium and B vitamins can improve brain health.

You also may be interested in...

Article
Mar 28, 2024

Do You Eat from Your Garden?

Nutrition infographic

March is National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is “Beyond the Table.” Consuming a variety of fruit and vegetables daily decreases your risk of various diseases (i.e., heart disease, cancer, etc.) and other disorders/ailments.

Article
Mar 18, 2024

Good Nutrition, Good Health, Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital Educates, Raises Awareness

Capt. Aireal Williams, chief of nutrition care division, and Holly Seager, both registered dieticians at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital raise awareness during National Nutrition Month about making informed food choices, developing healthful eating habits, and educating patients on the role registered dieticians and nutrition and dietetic technicians play on their healthcare team at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson, Louisiana (Photo: Jean Graves)

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital raises awareness in March about making informed food choices, developing healthful eating habits, and educating patients on the role registered dieticians and nutrition and dietetic technicians play on their healthcare team. March 13 is National Registered Dietician and March 14 is Nutrition and Dietetics Technician ...

Article
Feb 12, 2024

The Breakfast Club

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Rose Gurley, a dental technician assigned to the 175th Medical Group, noticed that many of her fellow airmen were skipping breakfast due to their early working hours. She organized some of her teammates and began sponsoring morning meals for the medical group. (Photo by U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Emily Batchelor)

During the early morning hustle of medical personnel, U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Rose Gurley, a dental technician assigned to the 175th Medical Group, noticed a common struggle. Many of the airmen were skipping breakfast due to the early working hours.

Last Updated: July 11, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery