DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service makes it convenient for military communities to find healthy dining choices.
As part of the BE FIT 360 program, the Exchange offers better-for-you meals, snacks and beverages at restaurants, Expresses and unattended retail units. The Exchange operates more than 1,500 restaurants, 350 Express convenience stores, 430 unattended retail units and 21,000 vending machines at installations worldwide, making it easy for Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians to fuel up.
At Express stores, the Exchange carries more than 450 BE FIT-approved items—entrees with fewer than 500 calories and snacks with fewer than 200—including fresh fruit, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, trail mix and nuts, tuna, energy bars, grass-fed meat snacks, veggie chips, frozen entrees, bottled water and more.
“Having quick and convenient access to better-for-you meals and snacks is vital for the readiness and resilience of the total force,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, the Exchange’s senior enlisted advisor. “The Exchange is all in to support the health, wellness and nutrition of Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families with ever-expanding BE FIT options.”
Exchange restaurants feature multiple better-for-you options. Shoppers can find items with 300 or fewer calories from Charley’s Philly Steaks with items including grilled chicken, steak and garden salads. Taco Bell offers vegetarian, high protein and lower calorie options with almost any item available for order “fresco style” which replaces ingredients typically higher in calories and fat with freshly prepared pico de gallo. Starbucks features two lunch and 11 hot breakfast items with fewer than 500 calories, while other better-for-you options include oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, and nuts.
Subway offers more than a dozen sandwiches with 350 calories while the Arby’s menu includes more than 10 items with 500 calories or fewer. At Panda Express, 12 entrees have 300 calories or fewer while “Wok Smart” options include string bean chicken breast, kung pao chicken and broccoli beef. Qdoba Mexican Eats entrees can be made with fresh vegetables and grilled chicken, and diners can customize their meals to accommodate low-carb, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-friendly, high-protein and low-calorie preferences.
Making healthy choices is also easy on shoppers’ wallets, with participating Exchange restaurants offering $2 off salads every Wednesday.
For shoppers who may not be near Exchange restaurants or Expresses on their installation, unattended retail units are convenient options. These fully automated self-service convenience stores offer fresh salads, sandwiches, fruits and vegetables to support diners on the go. The Exchange’s commitment to providing nutritious options extends to vending machines with items like baked chips, dried fruit, trail mix and other snacks. Both URUs and vending machines provide options that meet the National Automatic Merchandising Association Fit Pick requirements, reserved for products that contain no more than 35% of calories from fat, 10% of total calories from saturated fat and 35% of total weight from sugar.
Shoppers can learn more at the Exchange’s BE FIT hub page at ShopMyExchange.com/BeFit.
Social-media-friendly version: The Exchange makes it easy for shoppers to find healthy dining choices, with better-for-you options available throughout restaurants, Expresses and unattended retail units. Learn more: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-2FC
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 54th-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $3.5 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Travis Day, 214-312-3534 or [email protected].
Follow the Exchange:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopmyexchange
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shopmyexchange
Instagram: @shopmyexchange