Military diet: 3-day diet or dud?

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 2158 GMT (0558 HKT) March 8, 2018

Thinking of trying the three-day crash "military diet," supposedly invented to get overweight recruits into shape? The US Department of Defense says that's all bunk. They say the online military diet, also known as the Army or Navy diet, has nothing to do with the three squares our men and women in uniform eat each day. <br /><br />What is the "real" military diet? Keep clicking to see what we feed our armed forces, at home and abroad.<br />
Photos: The real US military diet
Thinking of trying the three-day crash "military diet," supposedly invented to get overweight recruits into shape? The US Department of Defense says that's all bunk. They say the online military diet, also known as the Army or Navy diet, has nothing to do with the three squares our men and women in uniform eat each day.

What is the "real" military diet? Keep clicking to see what we feed our armed forces, at home and abroad.
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Around the world, US military and civilians can join together in massive mess halls, like this one in Afghanistan, filled with healthy hot and cold meal options. <br />"Military dining facilities are required to provide a large variety of foods," says certified nutrition specialist <a href="https://www.usuhs.edu/faculty-staff/patricia-deuster-phd-mph" target="_blank">Patricia Deuster</a>, professor at the Uniformed Services University and author of the first US Navy SEAL Nutrition guide. "You could pick from items such as beef and broccoli stir fry with rice, salads, burgers and fries or a pizza."
Photos: The real US military diet
Around the world, US military and civilians can join together in massive mess halls, like this one in Afghanistan, filled with healthy hot and cold meal options.
"Military dining facilities are required to provide a large variety of foods," says certified nutrition specialist Patricia Deuster, professor at the Uniformed Services University and author of the first US Navy SEAL Nutrition guide. "You could pick from items such as beef and broccoli stir fry with rice, salads, burgers and fries or a pizza."
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This breakfast for troops in Guatemala is an example of the variety of fare offered to jump-start the day. Depending on the soldier's body size, job tasks and environment, Deuster says, a typical day can include between 4,000 and 7,000 calories.
Photos: The real US military diet
This breakfast for troops in Guatemala is an example of the variety of fare offered to jump-start the day. Depending on the soldier's body size, job tasks and environment, Deuster says, a typical day can include between 4,000 and 7,000 calories.
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For those with less time, the military offers healthy grab-and-go breakfast options such as bagels, fruit and yogurt. "There is a huge food transformation initiative across the services," Deuster said. "Everyone is realizing that nutrition is very, very important for performance."
Photos: The real US military diet
For those with less time, the military offers healthy grab-and-go breakfast options such as bagels, fruit and yogurt. "There is a huge food transformation initiative across the services," Deuster said. "Everyone is realizing that nutrition is very, very important for performance."
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As part of the Department of Defense menu standards, a wide variety of vegetables are offered to servicemen and women. "There is a Department of Defense manual that is updated periodically; there are nutrition committees, combat feeding directorates, lots of regulations," Deuster said.
Photos: The real US military diet
As part of the Department of Defense menu standards, a wide variety of vegetables are offered to servicemen and women. "There is a Department of Defense manual that is updated periodically; there are nutrition committees, combat feeding directorates, lots of regulations," Deuster said.
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In Okinawa, Japan, oranges, apples, melon and pineapple are served at the dessert bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner as part of the new "Go for Green" program.<br />"Go for Green is a healthy-eating initiative in which foods are labeled green, yellow and red," Deuster said. "It's not calorie-dependent. Instead, green signifies foods with greatest nutrition density." <br />The 12th Marines Mess Hall in Okinawa received the award for best chow hall in the Marine Corps in 2015.
Photos: The real US military diet
In Okinawa, Japan, oranges, apples, melon and pineapple are served at the dessert bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner as part of the new "Go for Green" program.
"Go for Green is a healthy-eating initiative in which foods are labeled green, yellow and red," Deuster said. "It's not calorie-dependent. Instead, green signifies foods with greatest nutrition density."
The 12th Marines Mess Hall in Okinawa received the award for best chow hall in the Marine Corps in 2015.
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A pilot program at Georgia's Fort Stewart, this fast food truck will provide "healthy meal options to soldiers at motor pools, barracks and other locations where they congregate."<br />"From looking at vending machines, what fast food restaurants we allow on posts, to looking beyond the 'mess hall' design to fast food trucks, we are trying to get personnel to be more inclined to make healthy choices," Deuster said.
Photos: The real US military diet
A pilot program at Georgia's Fort Stewart, this fast food truck will provide "healthy meal options to soldiers at motor pools, barracks and other locations where they congregate."
"From looking at vending machines, what fast food restaurants we allow on posts, to looking beyond the 'mess hall' design to fast food trucks, we are trying to get personnel to be more inclined to make healthy choices," Deuster said.
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Food served in the field must be as nutritious as that served back at base, and the military says it makes sure it's also tasty by conducting frequent field tests. Health care specialist Earl Buelow eats a forkful of scrambled eggs and salsa during a heat-and-serve menu testing at Fort Riley, Kansas.