Dietary habits of soldiers in view of physical work demands
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| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Description | Practically the same nutritional principles apply soldiers executing the normal tasks of combat and guard units as apply for civilian workers. By contrast, members of special combat and support units must receive nutrition approximating that used by strength and endurance athletes to match their needs. The movement activities of soldiers are very diverse, depending upon the type of unit, on whether the company is in training (on base, if abroad), whether the training is taking place in drilling grounds, whether the unit has been taken to a training area or is performing a military task under peacetime conditions. 85 respondents were included in the research. There were members of a mechanized battalion from Tabor which is part of the 4th Brigade of the Rapid Deployment Force. The eating habits of two groups of soldiers grouped according to the physical demands placed upon them by their work are analyzed in this paper. The first group consists of members of combat unit with a high physical workload. They were members of the mechanized troops from the mechanized brigade. This group consisted exclusively of males. The control group consists of selected members of a security unit whose workload is not as physically demanding. They were members of a supply unit in the mechanized battalion, members of a logistics brigade. Two women were members of this group. Preferences of the individual groups in terms of food choices for breakfast, lunch dinner and snacks were determined by the questionnaire method. It was determined that for lunch and dinner, members of both military units selected the same food groups. Differences arose in terms of individual food group preferences for lunch and snacks. Members of the security unit preferred vegetables, among other findings. |