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From Training to the Barracks: Mission Nutrition Facilitators Bring Practical Fueling Skills to Sailors

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November 4, 2026 | Story by Joanne Villaflor - CNIC Performance Enhancement Dietitian | Commander, Navy Installations Command | Fleet and Family Readiness

Newly trained Navy Mission Nutrition facilitators at Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville put their skills into action on September 28, partnering with Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Liberty to host their first cooking class focused on preparing easy, nutritious meals in Unaccompanied Housing (UH).

Five Sailors participated in the class, including two enrolled in the Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP) and three from UH. Drawing from Mission Nutrition Lesson 5, “Practical Applications: Meal Planning and Eating Out,” facilitators covered meal planning, the Power Plate concept and safe food preparation in barracks living spaces.

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Using the “Easy Teriyaki Chicken and Rice” recipe from the Unaccompanied Housing Sailor’s Cookbook, facilitators demonstrated how Sailors can prepare quick, nutritious meals using resources available in their living quarters. Participants also had an opportunity to ask questions about nutrition and meal preparation, connecting what they learned to everyday choices.

NAS Kingsville MWR Liberty’s Jennifer Alaniz helped make the class possible by providing food, storage containers, cooking supplies and other materials. The collaboration across MWR programs helped bring nutrition education beyond the classroom and into the spaces where Sailors live.

Building on the success of their first class, the facilitators plan to offer monthly cooking lessons to help Sailors develop confidence in preparing meals that support their health, fitness and readiness.

Through programs like Mission Nutrition and Liberty, Navy MWR helps Sailors build healthy habits, develop practical life skills and access resources that support their readiness and quality of life. For more information about Navy MWR programs and services, visit NavyMWR.org.

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