Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.
Average daily energy and nutrients content of menu compared to nutrient recommendation of RNIs and
PMAT.
Mean±SD
% RNI
% PMAT
RNI 19-29
years male
Menu
Option 1
Menu
Option 2
Menu
Option 1
Menu
Option 2
Menu
Option 1
Menu
Option 2
Nutrient
PMAT
Energy (kcal)
2440
3200
2843
2772
116.52
113.61
88.84
86.63
Protein (g)
62
60
123.48
126.59
199.17
204.17
205.80
210.98
Kcal (%)
10-15
-
17.4
18.3
-
-
-
-
Fat (g)
-
71
103.64
97.34
-
-
145.97
137.10
Kcal (%)
20-30
-
32.8
31.6
-
-
-
-
Carbohydrate (g)
-
-
353.46
346.87
-
-
-
-
Kcal (%)
55-70
-
49.8
50.1
-
-
600
-
1175.31
1209.01
195.88
201.51
-
-
Vitamin A (μg)
Vitamin C (mg)
70
-
152.83
141.20
218.33
201.72
-
-
Calcium (mg)
800
-
587.54
575.13
73.44
71.89
-
-
Iron (mg)
14
-
23.40
24.67
167.16
176.21
-
-
Thiamin (mg)
1.2
-
1.48
1.51
122.91
125.58
-
-
Riboflavin (mg)
1.3
-
2.39
2.23
183.76
171.38
-
-
Niacin (mg) NE
16
-
19.40
20.25
121.25
126.57
-
-
Sodium (mg)*
2300
-
4289.68
4074.80
178.73
169.78
-
-
Zinc (mg)
6.7
-
7.80
8.19
116.40
122.26
-
-
Dietary fibre (g)
38
-
13.39
13.37
35.23
35.18
-
-
*Institute of Medicine (2005)
the energy recommendation for soldiers in train-
ing based on military dietary recommendation,
PMAT for male recruits. Protein from the menu has
exceeded the RNIs and PMAT recommendation
(17.4 to 18.3%). Fat content of the menu exceeded
the recommended range of 20 to 30%. Carbohy-
drate was not sufficiently provided by the catering
within the recommended carbohydrate range of 55
to 70%. Nutrient values for vitamin A, vitamin C,
iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, sodium and zinc
did meet the recommendation of RNIs (100% of
RNIs). However, the levels of calcium and dietary
fiber in the menu were suboptimal.
(Williams, 2009) due to the effect of the military
exercises. Hence, the recommended nutrient intakes
(RNIs) for Malaysia may not be applicable to these
recruits but the RNIs at least can assess the level
of nutritional adequacy among the recruits in the
training centre in order to avoid diet insufficiency
rather than go for optimal diet during basic recruit
training. The Malaysian Armed Forces have mili-
tary dietary recommendation when providing food
for the soldiers, PMAT (2003) with energy provided
must at the minimum of 2700 kcal/day with intake
of 60g from protein and 60g from fat. However,
the dietary recommendation was meant for general
soldier involved with military support activities.
Soldiers and recruits in training centre as well as in
the field operation are subjected to normal combat
rations with energy provided must be at minimum
level of 3200 kcal/day with energy contribution of
60 g from protein and 71g of fat (PMAT, 2003).
The current menu provided by the catering eas-
ily provided daily energy requirements of energy
for general Malaysian male and general soldier
population based on the RNIs and PMAT recom-
mendation. However, the energy provided by the
menu from the catering did not meet the minimum
of intake values for recruits in training based on
PMAT recommendation for soldiers in military
training (3200 kcal/day). The energy needs for
Phase 1 basic recruit training (3257 kcal), Phase 2
basic recruit training (3588 kcal) and Phase 3 basic
recruit training (3492 kcal) exceeds the minimum
5 DISCUSSION
The research question discussed here was whether
the menu provided by the catering meet the recom-
mended level of nutrient intake for the male army
recruits during basic recruit training. The menu
offered in the basic training centre is a 4-week
cycle menu, a series of daily menu on a basis of
four weeks, after which the cycle is repeated. 'Cycle
menu are used to offer variety with some degree of
predictability for ordering, budgeting and produc-
tion scheduling' (Spears and Gregoire, 2010). In
many military institutional training, the soldiers
were dependent on the catering to provide large
proportion of the food consumed and they were
at nutritional risk than the general population
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