Nutrition as a key to success
The demands of military service, training, and missions are unique, requiring strength and endurance—physical and mental—to succeed. One factor that can enhance your mental and physical performance and contribute to mission success is good nutrition. In addition, feeding your body nutrient-rich foods can contribute to optimal lifelong health.
This Guide includes a variety of materials—from short summaries to detailed information—with additional resources and important tips for nutrition at home, in garrison, and during deployment. Each command has specialized missions, with the duration of deployments ranging from 30 days to 12 months. Long missions far from central support pose nutritional concerns, and good solutions are not always possible. The Guide covers strategies for optimizing nutrition for all phases of military life.
What to expect in WNG
The Warfighter Nutrition Guide (WNG) evolved into its first edition after many conversations, discussions, and interactions with military, fitness, and nutrition experts. Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) updates it periodically to keep pace with new developments in nutrition and wellness.
- Chapters 2–5 provide general background information about energy expenditure, sources of energy, essential nutrients, and hydration. These are the backbone of WNG.
- Chapters 6–8 explain how to select high-performance meals and snacks for everyday life—whether you eat in military dining facilities, at home, or at restaurants.
- Chapters 9–12 review important information on using nutrition to excel. They cover strategies to achieve your training and mission goals, nutritional strategies for various missions, and dietary supplement safety and resources.
- Chapters 13 and 14 explore nutrition strategies while deployed, including combat rations and ways to stay safe when eating abroad.
- Chapter 15 discusses the importance of sleep, physical activity, and how you can eat to regain pre-deployment health and fitness after returning home from extended deployments.
- Chapter 16 provides information on how to be a long-term warrior and what the seasoned warrior can do to maintain operational readiness and good health after years of intense physical training and activity.
Warfighters need effective nutritional strategies to optimize performance every day—whether you’re at home or on a mission—and preserve health into retirement.