PRINT MATERIALS FAQ
Browse the list below to find answers to commonly asked questions about printing G4G education and marketing materials for multiple venues across your installation.
Do you have a unique printing request or resource need? We’re happy to connect and help you navigate a way forward. Email us at G4GTeam@usuhs.edu . Thank you for being a G4G CHAMPion too! Follow us on Facebook to see how other facilities “go for Green.”
Why is it important to print standardized G4G materials?
G4G provides a quick and easy way for Service Members to find performance-enhancing foods and drinks. Using standardized G4G signage, including food and drink cards, in your facility aligns with G4G Program Requirement #7: Marketing & Education by helping to inform diners how to use G4G and the impact of nutrition on performance, readiness, and health. In addition, dining facilities can benefit from G4G by promoting themselves as the best option for delicious, performance-boosting fuel. Before you get started printing G4G materials:
- Assemble your G4G planning team.
- Bring your local G4G team up to speed on the latest policies and training requirements.
- Evaluate the available space in your facility to help determine which materials fit best.
- Outline your marketing campaign to get the word out about how G4G helps diners fuel well for peak performance.
Tip from the field
During the planning process, ask yourselves, “How can we display G4G signage at our facility to help Service Members “go for Green”?
Ready to go for Green, but still have questions? The G4G Program Office provides consultative services on planning, implementation, and maintenance to G4G operators across DoD. Contact us at G4GTeam@usuhs.edu to learn more.
How do I order professionally printed G4G materials?
G4G food cards, drink cards, posters, table tents, table signs, and brochures should be professionally printed. You can download the education and marketing materials from our website and print them at your local print office. We also have digital materials if your facility has digital menu boards or screens.
For more information on how and where to print, contact your G4G service representative.
My local printing office needs more details on printing G4G materials. Where can I find that information?
G4G’s Print & Digital Materials page has high-resolution PDF files and other materials you can provide to your local printing office. In addition, your office can use the detailed guidance in the G4G Printing Instructions for optimal printing.
Is there a comprehensive list of G4G materials I should print?
The G4G Materials tracking sheet helps local G4G teams “plan before you print.” The tracking sheet includes a list of recommended marketing materials for your facility. Use it to track the quantity of G4G marketing materials you have available to rotate throughout your dining facility. Keep in mind you might need to order backup or replacement food cards or posters as well.
The exact amount of materials your dining facility should print or order depends on its size, menu cycle, and menu items. Place materials in high-traffic areas or in places where diners might wait in line. Find education and marketing materials—and even more resources to meet G4G program requirements—on the Print & Digital Materials page.
Tip from the field
Identify a G4G Administrative Lead for your G4G team. The G4G Administrative Lead assembles, displays, and manages food cards and menu signage. You’re an essential part of the local G4G team, so check out the Go for Green webpage to learn more about resources to support your facility’s G4G goals.
Can I create and print my own G4G materials?
Display only approved G4G posters, food cards, drink cards, table tents, and brochures in your dining facility. Marketing is critical to program success, so consistently displaying the G4G logo and G4G-approved products helps raise diner awareness of the program. Also, with G4G being a DoD program, standardized G4G materials help diners choose performance-boosting meals at any military facility worldwide.
Be sure to browse G4G educational and marketing materials to help promote performance-enhancing foods and drinks at your dining facility too.
Tip from the field
Do you have an idea for new G4G materials? The G4G Program Office encourages the Services and local teams to share your thoughts. Requests for new materials might be developed into standardized G4G products. Contact us at G4GTeam@usuhs.edu with your suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you!
Who is responsible for choosing and printing G4G materials at my dining facility?
On your local G4G team, the facility manager, G4G Team Lead, and/or G4G Marketing Lead should take the lead in ordering, organizing, printing, and displaying educational and marketing materials. Partner with a registered dietitian (RD) or qualified nutrition asset to use printed G4G materials to help educate diners on G4G’s role in performance nutrition.
Tip from the field
If your local G4G team doesn’t have a G4G Nutrition Lead, partnering with an RD or nutrition asset at your installation can help support nutrition education, training, and promotion efforts. Here are some ideas on how to leverage their expertise:
- Brief Service Members on performance nutrition and G4G.
- Support G4G planning efforts.
- Collaborate on content to optimize your marketing strategy through social media, educational briefs, articles or newsletters, and other nutrition-education materials.
Why should I print food cards, coding signs & menu boards?
Food cards, coding signs, and menu boards are all different ways to label menu items with G4G color and sodium codes. Post these materials daily at your dining facility as part of the overall effort to educate Service Members on nutrient-rich options for peak readiness.
Aim to use individual food cards and drink cards for every menu item to identify the food or drink and label the G4G color and sodium code at the point of selection. Neatly display food cards in front of (or nearby) each menu item, so diners can quickly and easily identify high-performance foods.
Looking to save time and reduce your reliance on printing individual food cards? Menu boards and coding signs have multiple benefits.
- Reduce your dining facility’s reliance on food cards.
- Optimize space in compact areas requiring multiple labels (such as the salad bar or condiment station).
- Save money by printing menu boards and coding signs on an office printer and using fewer printed materials.
- Save time for staff when putting out materials for each meal period.
"Menu board" template: Fill in the template with the serving station's menu, print it, and then post it on serving lines or stations. You can also use these templates for digital menu displays and screens. Refer to the G4G program requirements for guidance on using the G4G logo.
Coding signs: Use coding signs where individual food cards aren’t possible, especially if your facility has limited space. You can also use coding signs instead of (or along with) food cards.
Tip from the field
Get creative with ways to showcase G4G across your installation. Some ideas include using a screen at the dining facility entrance to highlight new menu items, G4G specialty bar and “build your own” station graphics, and “Featured Meal” signs to highlight available Green-coded meals.
G4G FOOD CARDS & DRINK CARDS
Why are G4G food cards & drink cards important?
G4G food cards and drink cards are some of the most visual program components because your diners will see them when choosing what to eat. Once recipes and food/drink items have been assigned color and sodium codes, you’re ready to create food cards. Producing food cards properly is a critical step in the G4G program and requires attention to detail. Food and drink cards with sodium codes educate diners and highlight the program as well as meet G4G Program Requirement 4: Standardized display of G4G color and sodium codes.
Tip from the field
Do you have staff member(s) excited to promote the G4G program? Are they detail-oriented and well-organized? If so, consider making them a G4G Administrative Lead. They’ll excel with dedicated time to create sticky labels, print materials, and assemble G4G food cards.
How do I order professionally printed G4G food cards and drink cards?
G4G food cards, drink cards, posters, table tents, table signs, and brochures should all be professionally printed. You can download the files from our website and print them at your local print office. Contact your G4G service representative for Service-specific guidance on ordering materials. We also have digital materials if your facility has digital menu boards.
For best practices assembling and presenting food and drink cards in your facilities, check out the article on food and drink cards basics.
Tip from the field
Looking to save time and decrease your facility’s need for individual food cards? Fill out a G4G menu board template instead with the serving station's menu, print it, and then post it on serving lines and stations (or display digitally, if possible). Refer to the G4G program requirements for guidance on using the G4G logo.
Can I make my own template for G4G food cards and drink cards?
Use only approved standardized G4G food cards to ensure program consistency. Assemble food cards using this 5-step process for optimal results.
Tip from the field
If you identify a need for other materials or versions of G4G materials, send your request to the G4G Program Office at G4GTeam@usuhs.edu.
G4G MENUS
We’re revising our menu. Are there G4G sample menus we can download and/or print?
Take a look at the available sample menus that were developed and pre-coded by the Armed Forces Recipe Service (AFRS). Each menu breaks down the percentages of Green-, Yellow-, and Red-coded items (based on meal period and menu component). Sample menus also include suggestions for G4G specialty bars, help your facility increase variety, and provide more options for diners. G4G sample menus also meet DoDM 1338.10: DoD Food Service Program, G4G Menu Coding Goals, and G4G Army Nutrition Standards and guidelines.
Using AFRS recipes in your facility has many benefits.
- All AFRS recipes are lab-tested and standardized, so you can expect consistent results for taste, texture, and yield if food is prepared according to the recipe.
- New and updated recipes are available quarterly in the AFRS recipes spreadsheet, so make sure to download a copy. You can also sort, filter, search, and organize recipes for your facility.
- On the Recipes page, you can search for a specific AFRS recipe by name, recipe number, or ingredient. You also can sort by category, color code, portion size, or sodium level to quickly find what you need to create a high-performance menu.
Tip from the field
If you find your dining facility’s current options lacking variety, spice up your menu with the specialty bar guidelines to introduce more global flavors, innovative ingredients, and customized options within your performance-enhancing menu.
My facility is changing over to digital displays. Where can I find G4G digital-menu templates?
G4G digital-menu templates are approved for use in food and drink stations throughout your dining facility or galley. Use these signs instead of (or along with) food cards. In addition, you can use these templates—which include G4G logo, color code, sodium code, and price (when applicable)—to create your digital menu boards.
Use menu board templates to display each serving area’s menu on a screen too. “Build your own” menu boards are also a great option for diners to order from when creating a customized bowl or plate. Digital menus can:
- Save your facility money by printing fewer materials.
- Save time by preloading menu items.
- Help create an organized and eye-catching display.
Tip from the field
Looking for a G4G sample menu that’s easy to transfer to digital displays, provides a variety of options for diners, and meets menu standards and guidelines? Check out the G4G sample menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
G4G POSTERS
How do I order professionally printed G4G posters?
G4G posters and materials should be professionally printed locally by your installation or facility. You can download the files from our website and print them at your local print office. We also have digital materials if your facility has digital boards.
Are G4G posters free?
Each Service branch and local dining facility or galley is responsible for their own marketing and supporting materials (food card holders, poster frames, sign holders, etc.). Refer to your Service point of contact for Service-specific guidance on obtaining G4G marketing and educational materials.
What are the benefits of using G4G posters?
Do you want to help increase the number of Service Members who choose to “go for Green” and eat at your dining facility? Marketing is key to program success, and eye-catching posters can help promote G4G and increase headcount. Display G4G posters inside your dining facility and in high-traffic areas around your installation—including gyms, barracks, or worksites—to enhance your team’s marketing efforts.
- G4G complements initiatives within each Service to promote nutrition for optimized performance.
- Posters help raise awareness of how to use G4G for mission readiness, nutritional fitness, and health.
- Displaying G4G posters gains recognition from leadership for your efforts to optimize performance and draw Service Members into dining facilities and galleys.
- Highlighting the importance of hydrating and building a nutrient-rich plate for training levels and recovery fuel can emphasize G4G principles throughout the day, beyond just meals consumed in the dining facility.
Have an idea for a poster you’d like in your facility? Want to customize one of our existing designs? Reach out to the G4G Program Office, and we can help you create something new.
G4G GRAPHICS AND LOGOS
Can I use the G4G logo?
Refer to the G4G program requirements for guidance on using the G4G logo. The G4G name and symbols are trademarked by the U.S. Army. Any use of G4G name, logo, and symbols is not allowed by commercial entities in advertising or on product packaging labels without expressed written consent from the U.S. Army.
When can I use G4G graphics?
Download G4G talking points for ideas on how to get started. Use G4G graphics to market and promote the program, facility menu changes, and nutrition education. You can use these graphics in digital (digital screens, email, website, online newspaper or journal, and social media) or print (newsletter, newspaper, handout, and brochure) formats.
Can I use G4G graphics and logos in our facility’s social media posts?
Yes! Social media is a powerful (and free!) strategy to let your diners know about G4G in your facility. Also, it’s an engaging, fun way to educate Service Members on how to eat well to perform well. Take a look at the G4G social media planner with ready-to-post messages and graphics to make connecting with your diners quick and easy.