Dietary Assessment of U.S. Army Basic Trainees at Fort Jackson, South Carolina

The dietary intakes of 41 male and 40 female basic trainees were collected and analyzed for seven days during August 1988. This information was used to determine the overall nutritional adequacy of diets; the number of soldiers consuming excessive intakes. These nutrients were targeted because of their association with the development of coronary heart disease. Additional information was collected from a larger sample of soldiers (128 males, 130 females), which included the 81 soldiers from which dietary intakes were collected. Additional data were collected to support the Army Health Risk Appraisal Program and to provide Army planners with information needed to make decisions concerning future nutrition education programs and other nutrition initiatives. The information included: blood lipid levels; food consumption habits prior to basic training; and the levels of nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and awareness possessed by soldiers who were just starting their Army careers. Keywords: Dietary assessment; Basic trainees; Army nutrition initiatives; Nutrient intakes; Military recommended dietary allowances; MREs; Rations; Cholesterol.