Hey guys, I have a quick question.

I'm actually going to be entering the Army via ROTC, so I won't be serving for 4 years, however I have a question about food intolerances.

I'm fructose intolerant, and having basically any kind of non-natural sugar completely screws up my digestive system.

Would the Army be able to supply me with foods I can digest easily? I'm doubting the meals have too much sugar,however fructose corn syrup, etc is in a lot of stuff.

Do any of you guys suffer with this or have any idea how these things get dealt with?

Thanks!

^^^ I'd be curious to know the answer to this one. Seems they push Power Aide a lot these days and I am sure the Sugar in that is NOT natural.

i doubt it because the sugar in MRE's isnt going to be natural i wouldn't have thought.

i'm interested as well

The military doesn't cater to anyone with special diet needs - lactose-intolerant, fructose-intolerant, gluten-intolerant, sodium-restricted, whatever. The closest they come is to provide vegetarian MREs, but that's usually a matter of choice/preference, not a medical need.

People with special dietary needs must make do with what is provided - picking and choosing what fits whenever possible.

Meals, including MREs, are generally high-calorie and high in sodium because of the high physical demands placed on many Soldiers. Nobody has to sit an eat an entire MRE - I know few who can! - but there is plenty of sugar (various forms) in them. Meals in mess halls (aka "dining facilities") offer a wider variety, and there you're on your own. During basic training/boot camp, however, you move down the chow line rapidly, take what they give you and eat in a hurry.

If food intolerance results in impaired function to the point that you cannot carry out your duties or job, then in all likelihood this will be a disqualifying condition for you. Significant food ALLERGIES are usually disqualfying (fish, peanuts, etc.) and intolerances can fall into that same category, depending on how disabled you become when you have no choice but to eat something that aggravates your digestive system.

You'll need to get full information on this condition from your doctor for the docs at MEPS. Don't even THINK of not disclosing it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cider33_Alpha,

quote:

I'm actually going to be entering the Army via ROTC, so I won't be serving for 4 years

This is out of my field of expertise, but I think after two years of ROTC you are given a physical before contracting. So I would find out up-front if that will be a disqualifying factor.

quote:

Significant food ALLERGIES are usually disqualfying (fish, peanuts, etc.) and intolerances can fall into that same category, depending on how disabled you become when you have no choice but to eat something that aggravates your digestive system.

Here are some of my experiences. I remember at one of the recruiting conferences, a recruiter mentioned that one of his applicants failed the physical because of an allergy to peanuts.

I saw the record of one recruit who was being discharged because of an allergy to shellfish. However, as with him and some of the others in the same situation, he could have requested a waiver. But at the end of the first week at the recruit training center, I guess he decided he'd had enough. How quickly they change!