DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is helping Warfighters and military families launch a BE FIT lifestyle with healthier eating habits as the new year begins, reaffirming the Department of Defense retailer’s commitment to service members’ readiness and resiliency.

“The Exchange wants to make living a BE FIT lifestyle as easy as possible so Warfighters can stay mission-ready and resilient,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Luis Reyes, the Exchange’s senior enlisted advisor. “By emphasizing better-for-you options, the Exchange can meet the needs Airmen, Soldiers and military families, whether they are fitness enthusiasts or just starting their BE FIT journey.”

As a partner with Healthy Army Community and Air Force Smart Fueling initiatives, the Exchange is committed to offering better-for-you food options in its restaurants, main stores and Expresses.

All of the Exchange’s 1,700 restaurants offer better-for-you choices, including Subway, Popeyes, Qdoba and Starbucks. In 2019, the Exchange plans to increase the number of its Freshens, Muscle Maker Grill, Boston Market and Sarku locations. Online nutritional guides for 24 Exchange restaurants are available at www.shopmyexchange.com/be-fit/nutrition.

For on-the-go snacking, more than 320 Express locations worldwide participate in a mandatory monthly endcap program that showcases items from the BE FIT-approved assortment. This selection contains up to 480 items, including fresh fruit, yogurt, trail mix and nuts, tuna pouches, grass-fed meat snacks and jerky, veggie chips, bottled water and more. Healthier Choices, Healthier Lifestyle shelf tags make it easy for military shoppers to find BE FIT-approved snacks and drinks.

Exchange vending machines, too, bring healthier options to Soldiers and Airmen needing a quick pick-me-up. Dried fruit, proteins bars and are part of the Exchange’s vending assortment. These and other Exchange vending options fulfill National Automatic Merchandising Association Fit Pick requirements, containing fewer than 35 percent of calories from fat, fewer than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat and fewer than 35 percent total weight from sugar.

“Proper nutrition keeps our Nation’s fighting forces ready and resilient,” Reyes said. “The Exchange is all in every step of the way.”

For more information on better-for-you options at the Exchange, shoppers can visit the BE FIT section of the Exchange’s online community Hub.