High Nutritional Iimpact

19 September 2006

Army nutritionist Captain Nicola Martin agrees that everyone in the Army has an opinion on food.

“I try to run for the exit door when people start harassing me about what’s in the mess or what isn’t! But in the Army, food is not just seen as fuel, or as just another component of life; food is a big part of the military and it has a real impact on morale”, she says.

She’s referring not just to mess food. In isolated environments, away from home and possibly miles from the nearest supermarket or Subway, CAPT Martin says the Army has an even greater “duty of care” to ensure its soldiers are well fed.

Recognising this, 18 months ago the NZ Army created the position of nutritionist, responsible for developing nutrition policy and education; pre-deployment training; nutrition in the mess; ration packs; one-on-one dietetic counselling; and nutrition research.

Taking charge of what goes into the stomachs of more than 4,500 troops is a hefty responsibility for a 28-year-old, but CAPT Martin has risen to the challenge. Last week, her dedication to introducing nutrition and dietetics into the Army was recognised when she was awarded the New Zealand Dietetic Association’s (NZDA) Nestle Young Achiever Award.

“She has demonstrated a genuine commitment to making nutrition front of mind amongst our armed forces”, said NZDA president Sandy Clemett. “Nicola has created a comprehensive and highly valued role for herself in one of the country’s largest and most important organisations. For a young dietician who is just starting her career this is a fantastic achievement.”

CAPT Martin gained her registration as a dietician in 2002 after accumulating an impressive string of qualifications: a Bachelor of Science (Physiology), a Bachelor of Consumer and Applied Science (Human Nutrition) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics at Otago University. While studying, she was also in the Territorial Force as a medic with 4th Otago  Southland Battalion Group.

After graduating, she worked for two years as a clinical dietician at Auckland Hospital, specialising in renal care. But it was a case of “right place, right time, right person” when she was approached about the Army nutritionist position.

“When the opportunity to introduce nutrition and dietetics to the Army came up I jumped at the chance. The opportunity to develop my own position within the organisation and, in effect, write my own job description, has been fantastic”, CAPT Martin says.

In enthusiastic tones, she says working for the Army is a great platform for her to “spread the word” about the impact of nutrition and hydration on performance.

“I’ve got this great opportunity with this huge, captive audience, with a group that nutrition can really make an impact on – that’s the exciting thing.”

It’s a gospel that can make a big difference not just to her overarching goal – increasing the Army’s operational readiness by making soldiers “fit to fight” – but to individual lives, which can be enhanced through better nutrition.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to work with a typically fit and healthy population, educating them about the impact that good nutrition and hydration can have on enhancing their lifestyle and their performance – rather than working with sick people in the hospital and being the ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’.”

When she says she wants to educate personnel about nutrition, soldiers can relax – CAPT Martin is nothing like television nutritionist Nikki Hart (AKA “Evil Diet Witch”) and has no intention of ridding the mess of fat, sugar and salt. Instead, she is focusing on providing healthy options and educating people so that they choose the healthy option.

CAPT Martin admits she has a hard task, especially as she’s not just trying to change individual soldiers. “Working with individuals we’re just trying to change their habits, but within the Army we’re not really trying to change habits we’re trying to change the culture, a culture that has been ingrained for a very long time.”

But she is looking forward to seeing that culture change over coming years. “In five years' time, I hope to be able to say that, thanks to nutrition, New Zealand’s Army is fitter, faster and stronger.”

Image Gallery - Issue 363