Nutrition in the Armed Forces – a Sociological Perspective

For a successful mission, armed forces need well-trained personnel, sufficient weapons, proper clothing and – last but not least – an adequate provision of food. The key questions here are: What do we mean by "an adequate provision of food"? How do armed forces guarantee an "appropriate food supply"?

This session will focus in particular on the sociological implications in answering these questions. The session is open to perspectives at all sociological levels: the macro-, meso- or micro-level. For instance, how do armed forces manage the diverse dietary needs within our society? How is the supply of food perceived by different members of the armed forces? Also, what is the contribution of meals in building cohesion? How is the provision of food related to the satisfaction and motivation of the military service members?

Based on the pyramid of human needs, it can be emphasized that food in the military directly affects all levels of these needs. It serves physiological purposes in the same way as the needs of safety, belonging, esteem and self-actualization. The goal of this session is to provide evidence of this importance food and meals have beyond of the simple nutritional components.