Veterans get the heat turned up on diet

By Shaun Inguanzo
GREATER Dandenong war veterans are learning to cook up a storm in a bid by Nutrition Australia to ensure returned servicemen eat healthy.
While school canteens are often the targets of health campaigns, Nutrition Australia dietitian Nerida Clark said returned servicemen had until now slipped under the health radar.
She said a lot of the veterans in the program, run at the Keysborough Learning Centre’s Men’s Shed, had served in the Vietnam War, and upon their return were subjected to social isolation, depression and other ailments.
“This population group has issues with depression alcohol abuse, and makes really poor food choices that go back to their time in war, and taste preferences during then,” Ms Clark said.
“But a lot don’t care and are experiencing real issues with their health, such as being overweight, having high-cholesterol, high blood pressure and other lifestyle related diseases.”
To counter any nutrition problems, Ms Clark has been running a six-week course at the Men’s Shed that skills ex-servicemen, and their wives, if they wish to attend, in basic culinary skills.
“I teach them basic cooking skills, such as how to chop things, using different foods like cous cous, and we also learn about nutrition education, including food labelling and dietary guidelines,” Ms Clark said.
The program has been hailed a success by its participants and Nutrition Australia.
So much so that Ms Clark said it would serve as a model for a broader veterans’ cooking program that Nutrition Australia would roll out, whereby veterans would end up teaching other vets new recipes and cooking techniques.
To celebrate the end of their course this week, participants enjoyed a roast lunch and some fine wine, with Ms Clark feeling confident the men would now be able to rely less on their partners to cook.
“The program has worked brilliantly,” she said.
“We have been collecting statistics on new recipes the men have attempted at home every week.
“We find they are using what they have learned to cook at home for themselves and their families.”