Naval Base Kitsap, Bangor’s Trident Inn Galley has started promoting a healthy lunch and targeting Sailors and Marines dedicating their lunchtime to physical fitness.

The “Healthy-To-Go” option offers service members the opportunity to work out during their lunch break and then pick up their grab-and-go lunch from the galley before returning to work.

“The idea was mentioned a few years ago, but never got off the ground until recently,” said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist James Thomas, Trident Inn Galley leading culinary specialist. “It was put out there that we could have a healthy ‘to-go’[lunch] for people who may have only one hour for lunch who’d rather go to the gym vice spending that whole hour at the galley. By doing this, they are able to pick it up, do their work out and go back to their office and can eat their lunch while they’re at their desk continuing to work.”

Upon entering the galley, personnel go directly to the front and let the cashier know they want a ‘to-go’ plate. They then pay and are redirected to the deli counter to inform the cook how they want their food prepared.

“It promotes healthy eating; anyone who partakes of this option is going to get just that,” said Thomas. “It causes a person to eat healthy because personnel are not permitted to go through the main line as those who do not choose this option. The intention was that if they go to the gym, this ‘to-go’ plate would be quick and easy for them so that they could take it with them.”

“I’m very excited that the galley is doing this to-go option, because it is much more convenient for me and many of my shipmates,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SS) Wesley Harris, Trident Training Facility. “It helps me out in a really big way, affording me the opportunity to be able to do my work, eat and at the same time maintain my workout routine and anything else that comes up unexpectedly. This is an awesome deal.”