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Military considers adding healthier food at vending kiosks, restaurants

Military officials are currently considering adding healthier foods to vending kiosks and fast food restaurants on military bases. However due to a contract, it will likely be a long process.

October 14, 2015

Military officials are currently considering adding healthier foods to vending kiosks and fast food restaurants on military bases. Currently, several franchises including Burger King and KFC are operating on military bases under contract with the Exchange services, so the military will need to work with the Exchanges to bring healthier options, according to areport by Military.com.

Due to the Exchanges contract, it will likely take a long time before the military can implement healthier options. "We are looking at how we do contracting, what do we have in our contracts, what do we require from the options, how do we make the contracts more competitive," Capt. Kimberly Elenberg, the director of United States Public Health Service's medical readiness and training program, said at a conference.

Currently, the Defense Department is finishing its Health Base Initiative demonstration, which is observing the health habits of service members and their families at 14 military bases. The Department also is looking at access to healthy foods.

Since change will likely take a long time, officials plan to focus on getting the restaurants and vending kiosks to display nutritional information.

"I'd immediately like to see menu labeling at all of the establishments on the installation so that when service members or families are taught 'these are my healthier choices' they can look at a menu and see what are the best options," Elenberg said. "And I'd like to see more of those options made available. I may not be able to change what establishments are on an installation in the short term but we can work together to promote their better options."