The Nutrition Care Directorate at WRAMC recently conducted a survey of dining facility patrons and discovered the majority of customers are interested in a food labeling system that designates the calories and fat in each item.

In response to the survey, the NCD staff has added its own labeling system called the “Go for Green Program” for items in the hospital dining facility. The purpose of the program, which has also been instituted in other dining facilities throughout the Army, is to help diners quickly and easily decide which foods to choose to meet their health goals.

The program is based on the principles of moderation, variety and balance in our diets. By using the colors of red, amber and green, foods will be labeled to indicate items that should be chosen most often, and those that should be chosen least often.

High-calorie, high-fat foods are labeled “red” to show the patron that these foods should be consumed in limited amounts. “Amber” labels are placed on foods that contain moderate amounts of calories and fat, while “green” foods are those that are lowest in calories and highest in nutrients.

Going for the “Green” foods will provide the most nutrients with the least amount of fat and calories.

Depending on the customer’s weight management and health goals, the patron can fill their plate with the appropriate amount of each category of food.

The color-coded labels will be placed on each entrČe and side dish served at lunch in Walter Reed’s hospital dining facility. Posters will be placed throughout the dining room to remind diners of what the food labels mean.

For more information, call (202) 782-6336. (Directorate of Nutrition Care)