An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News from around the Fleet

Kearsarge Health & Wellness Class Encourages Sailors Feeling Blue to ‘Go for Green’

17 May 2021

From Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nick Boris

NORFOLK, Va. - The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Medical Department hosted a general wellness class on healthy eating, weight management, heart health, and performance nutrition May 12, 2021.

With Kearsarge joining the rest of the Navy in preparation for its first Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) since before the Covid-19 pandemic, the goal in offering the nutrition class was to better prepare Kearsarge’s crew of approximately 1,000 Sailors for success in and out of the gym. 

"General wellness is important for Sailors because we’re tasked with demanding activities like 24-hour duty and watch standing,” said Lt. Sara Chambers, the Naval Surface Forces Atlantic dietitian who taught the class. “Maintaining our physical readiness not only enables us to perform during our semiannual fitness tests, it also helps us meet the rigors of our operational demands.”

Sailors are often required to perform arduous tasks for extended hours. These activities can be mentally taxing. Chambers educated Sailors on how their diet not only influences weight management, it also affects their mood, energy, and can balance mental health.  

Lt. Casey Arnold, Kearsarge’s general medical officer, concurs.

“Not only will a balanced diet aid in your physical health, decrease cholesterol and prevent obesity but it can also contribute to your mental health,” said Arnold. “A nutritious meal can boost your mood and give you energy to tackle your day.”

Go for Green is a DoD-wide, joint service food identification program the Navy employs in galleys on ships and ashore to help Sailors easily identify the nutritional value of food using colored cards: green, yellow, or red. These colors help Sailors identify foods optimized for performance and foods that should be limited.

“Sailors can maintain a healthy lifestyle on a ship by utilizing the Go for Green system,” said Chambers. “I recommend focusing mostly on green and yellow choices, limit choosing red, and to not have too many carbohydrates per meal. Go heavy on those vegetables on the line and salad bar.”

“Having nutrition events reminds everyone to get back into the fighting spirit,” said Chambers. “Getting back to regular healthy eating and exercise so that we can be ready to fulfill the Navy’s mission is a part of reclaiming a sense of normalcy.”

 

Google Translation Disclaimer

  • Google Translate, a third party service provided by Google, performs all translations directly and dynamically.
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil has no control over the features, functions, or performance of the Google Translate service.
  • The automated translations should not be considered exact and should be used only as an approximation of the original English language content.
  • This service is meant solely for the assistance of limited English-speaking users of the website.
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated.
  • Some items cannot be translated, including but not limited to image buttons, drop down menus, graphics, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).
  • Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil does not directly endorse Google Translate or imply that it is the only language translation solution available to users.
  • All site visitors may choose to use similar tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea, cnrk.cnic.navy.mil content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk.
  • IE users: Please note that Google Translate may not render correctly when using Internet Explorer. Users are advised to use MS Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browser to take full advantage of the Google Translate feature.
  • The official text of content on this site is the English version found on this website. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in translated text, refer to the English version on this website, it is the official version.

Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea   |   PSC 478 Box 1   |   FPO AP, 96212-0001
Official U.S. Navy Website