Ready-to-use-item database to improve nutrition labeling program efficiency

Abstract

Go for Green® (G4G 2.0) is an evidence-based, comprehensive dining facility nutrition program designed to improve access, availability, and knowledge of nutrient-dense foods for Service Members. A key component assigns codes to recipes and ready-to-use (RTU) foods and beverages to educate diners on performance impact (Green = high, Yellow = moderate, Red = low) and sodium content (Low, Moderate, High). The authors identified a gap in that RTU items were coded repetitively at local levels, which resulted in inefficient use of limited resources and coding inconsistencies. The objective was to create a database of common RTU items on the public G4G 2.0 website to decrease resources spent coding locally and maximize consistency among coded items. The authors compiled RTU items from nutrition colleagues, quality checked G4G 2.0 codes, then created a database. Stakeholders were informed via various communication methods about the database availability. New items can be coded upon request, with the database updated quarterly. The percentage of Green-coded items increased from 14 % to 18 % in one year. A publicly available, pre-coded database of RTU items streamlines G4G coding efforts, enhances coding consistency, showcases high-performance (Green) options, but also indicates the high-prevalence of Red-coded items available in military foodservice venues.