Healthier options in SAF cookhouses

We thank Mr Kevin Tong Weng Jin and Dr Lynn Low for their suggestions on healthier food options for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen (Time for SAF to take nutrition a step further, and Make soldiers part of 'war on diabetes'; both published on Sept 30).

The SAF conducts regular reviews to improve the nutritional value and palatability of our cookhouse meals.

The SAF refers to the Health Promotion Board's (HPB) healthy eating initiatives, and has in place measures such as limiting fried food, using healthier cooking oil, serving low-sugar drinks and making plain water and fruit available at every meal.

SAF cookhouses have also reduced the use of processed foods and, since last month, started serving mixed brown rice.

Later this month, the SAF will establish an Institutional Catering Advisory Panel, which will advise on dietary and food safety matters for meals in the SAF.

The panel will include members from the SAF, Defence Science and Technology Agency, DSO National Laboratories, tertiary institutions, and other government agencies such as the HPB.

The SAF takes the long-term well-being of our servicemen seriously, and strives to inculcate in them an enduring fitness culture and good eating habits.

To achieve this, the SAF continuously enhances our training system, bringing together subject-matter experts from the domains of sports science, nutrition, psychology, human factors engineering and rehabilitation to develop holistic programmes that cater to all our servicemen.

Terry Tan (Colonel)
Chief Supply Officer
Singapore Armed Forces

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 04, 2017, with the headline Healthier options in SAF cookhouses. Subscribe