The White Falcon - 05.12.1986, Page 11

SPORTS---------------------
Healthy Cuisine Program after holidays
Eating, working, having fun
in Navy's new fitness program
by Debbie Gaggtanl-Tagg
Navy Recreational Services,
Washington, D.C.
What come3 into your mind when
you hear the word fitness? Boring
exercise classes or grueling
workouts in hot, unattractive
facilities? Well, keep up with the
times! Achieving total fitness in
the Navy is anything but boring.
Healthy Cuisine
The Navy wants active duty
people and their families to have
the chance to live longer,
healthier lives. That means not
only getting plenty of exercise,
but also eating the right foods.
The new Healthy Cuisine Program,
which will kick off in Navy Clubs
after the Christmas holidays,
emphasizes that what you put into
your body is just as important as
exercise.
"In order for people to be
physically fit, they have to eat
right as well as be physically
active," said Kathy Miller,
assistant director, Navy Mess
Division, Navy Recreational
Services.
Miller said the program is
designed to help Navy clubs offer
appetizing foods that are low in
salt, fat and calories. She said
the familiar diet plate of a
hamburger patty, cottage cheese
and slice of tomato is out. Healthy
Cuisine's goal is to make food not
only healthier but also appealing.
That means you can get dishes like
steamed chicken with spinach
pesto at your local club.
Under the program, clubs will
be provided with new recipes as
well as suggestions on how to
substitute ingredients or prepare
food differently. For example,
sauteing, baking or broiling foods
instead of frying them can reduce
calories, cholesterol and fat.
December 5, 1986
Membership Fitness Centers
The newest trend is to charge
Navy people modest fees for
membership in physical fitness
centers with facilities and
services similar to the health spas
in the civilian community.
These "membership fitness
centers" offer top-quality exer-
cise equipment in pleasant sur-
roundings as well as saunas,
steam rooms or whirlpools. Many
have a professional staff to help
members develop workout rou-
tines.
While membership fees vary,
the average price is between $5
and $10 per month—well below
fees in the civilian community.
However, most centers charge
different fees for active duty,
dependents, retirees and DoD civ-
ilians. installations that have
membership fitness centers also
maintain free, basic fitness op-
portunities for those who would
rather not pay for the upgraded
facilities.
According to Dave Ranson,
head, Facility Branch, Navy
Recreational Services, the mem-
bership fitness center concept
grew out of the realization that
people needed professional, indiv-
idualized fitness instruction. This
led to the need for higher quality
exercise equipment and facilities
as well as a way to help pay for
them and the professional staff.
"We have a lot of people who
have never been taught how to
exercise or how to use exercise
equipment," Ranson said. "People
will pay for that kind of one-on-
one treatment."
The Recreation Department at
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
In Norfolk, Va., conducted a poll
in 1985 to find out if their patrons
would be willing to pay for an
upgraded fitness center. Accord-
ing to Recreation Director Mac
McGinty, 90 percent were in favor
or paying a nominal fee for better
equipment and facilities.
Now the membership fitness
center has an exercise room with
a variety of exercise equipment, a
weight room and a women's
exercise room with a sauna. The
center also has one steam room
and a sauna in every locker room.
Two instructors work with mem-
bers on their individual routines.
McGinty said the center has been
an overwhelming success. ‘We
have 500 members now," he said.
Next week, Minimum Fitness
Standards and Communit
Services Zones in part // ot
*Fitness can be Fun".
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