The commissary is a constant fixture among military families. It is the grocery store military families depend on with each move to have their staples and favorites. Beyond being the store that military families turn to for convenience and affordable products, there is a lot to love about the commissary.

Meat Power Boxes

Have you seen the meat power boxes in the meat section of your local commissary? Sometimes also available at the commissary entrances, these boxes provide a collection of meat options with additional savings. Four meat power boxes rotate availability per local commissary: Health Alternatives, Economy, Tailgate, and Fix it and Forget It. Each one offers up to 25% in savings on top of the Commissary’s lower prices. Each box includes 15-19 pounds with a variety of meat, depending on the box. This is perfect for families doing monthly or bi-monthly shopping trips to grab what they need and keep moving. It is also perfect for units or groups that are grilling or cooking together to save money.

Savings

Congress has mandated that the Defense Commissaries (DeCA) provided a consistent savings level for military families. This means that there are guaranteed savings at your local military commissary. These savings are calculated regionally so that prices better match that region’s cost-of-living. Per DeCA, the regional savings are as follows:

• New England: 21.8%
• South Atlantic: 18.7%
• South Central: 18.9%
• Pacific: 22.6%
• Mountain: 20%
• North Central: 21.4%
• Alaska/Hawaii: 33.2%

Rewards Card

In addition to the Congress-mandated savings, the Commissary has a Rewards program. The Rewards Program is an application with coupons for additional savings, no clipping necessary. Download the app, enter the number of your Commissary Rewards card, and “clip” from the store’s coupons. The card is associated with your phone number and can be used at checkout if you forget your card.

Use Your Military Star Card

Shopping for groceries and have a Military Star Card? Earn rewards on your grocery purchases! Earn 2 points for every $1 spent at the Military Commissary. Every 2,000 points earn a $20 rewards card. Historically, there have also been double points offerings on certain days, earning 4 points per $1, meaning you earn the reward even faster. Check your local Military Commissary social media for any offerings of this type.

Grab-N-Go

While living the hotel-style life or just moving into a new home, the grab-n-go section is a, pardon the pun, go-to. The packaged sushi, salads, and sandwiches are perfect for families without dishes, often including silverware or chopsticks that are readily available at the pick-up area. Perfect for those deployment days when you don’t want to cook, but you still have to eat and feed the kids – grab a rotisserie chicken from the Grab-N-Go and grab some deli sides for a complete meal.

Amazing International Aisle

The International aisle spans a variety of ethnic foods, especially areas that military service members and their families were stationed overseas. Looking for mustard from Germany, or a biscuit from the U.K.? Or perhaps that canned coffee you got from Dydo while living in Asia? It’s in the International aisle at the commissary! It’s a trip down memory lane and a chance to share those memories with other family members. Haven’t been to any of these countries? Enjoy the food from the country from the comfort of your home without the requirement of your passport, all at affordable prices.

Click2Go Curbside service

Online shopping and curbside pickup service have become a staple in the last year. It is perfect for busy individuals, parents with sick children or families with a deployed spouse, or just plain don’t want to go into the store. Click2Go is the curbside service of the Commissary. Orders can be placed here. Upon pickup, you will be required to show military ID, the confirmation email and bring a preferred form of electronic payment. There is no minimum order size or minimum dollar amount.

The Click2Go service is available at Charleston AFB, Fort Belvoir, Fort Eustis, Fort Lee, Fort Polk, Jacksonville NAS, Oceana NAS, Offutt AFB, Quantico, and McGuire. There are hours of operation for Click2Go which can be checked here.  This service is still in the testing phase, and if it is popular, there are plans to expand to more commissaries.

Overseas Perks

Moving to a foreign country is an amazing opportunity that some military families enjoy. Living overseas means a new culture, housing, and food. There are also differing food prices in the local economy that are not always affordable. While military families living overseas do receive a COLA, the on-base commissary provides a place with familiar food with labels that are easily read, which is an amazing resource for families with food allergies. Also, some food pricing at the local commissaries is aligned with U.S. pricing and is much more affordable on base than off.  Bonus -when living overseas, coupons to be accepted up to 6 months after their expiration date!

Packaged Meals Ready to Cook

Beyond the Grab-N-Go are prepackaged meals near the meat section. Want to make a stew but don’t have all the ingredients? Grab the prepackaged stew packages, and everything is there – oftentimes including the seasoning packets. All you have to do is cut the container open, pour and cook per the instructions. A homecooked meal is not far away with the prepared ready to cook meals. These are useful when living in temporary living facilities with a limited kitchen as some of these can be prepared easily on the stovetop that on-base hotel facilities have.

Sense of Camaraderie

The commissary isn’t just a grocery store. It’s part of the community. It is where new families run into friends they knew at the previous duty station. It’s where you run into the family down the street and catch up on neighborhood gatherings. The commissary is a community resource for the families that serve.

DeCA Marketing and Mass Media

April 12, 2021

FORT LEE, Va. – Commissary patrons stateside can stock up on their favorite items at significant savings during the Defense Commissary Agency’s Military Appreciation Month Sidewalk Sale event in May.

“This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our patrons for their service and sacrifice,” said Bonita Moffett, DeCA’s director of sales. “These U.S. sidewalk sales give our military members and their families a chance to realize extra savings during this military recognition month. We care and you save!”

Commissaries stateside only will hold their sidewalk sale, with a few exceptions, sometime between April 29 and May 31. The sales coincide with May’s Military Appreciation Month.

Weather permitting, most commissaries will have one event – a two- or three-day outdoor weekend sidewalk sale – featuring extra savings on variety of everyday items. Event dates are subject to change, so patrons are encouraged to check their store’s web page for sale dates and hours or talk to their store manager for more details or updates.

Customers have a variety of options to choose from. Sale items may include products in the following categories: Snacks, Beverages, Pet Food, International Foods, Baking Goods, Canned Goods, Non-Food Items, and Health and Beauty Products.

“This is another way the commissary brings quality and savings together for our military families,” Moffett added.

In accordance with DOD policy regarding COVID-19 safety protocols, commissary customers and employees are required to wear masks at sidewalk sale events.

-DeCA-

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        15-21                                                                                                                        

Date:                              March 4, 2021

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

‘Fuel with us’

Commissaries begin launch of dietitian-approved, ready-to-eat stations for on-the-go troops

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

FORT LEE, Va. – The lifestyle of a young service member can be beyond hectic with ongoing deployments and constant training rotations.

To help these busy service members access quick, nutritious meals and snacks, the Defense Commissary Agency launched the first phase of its dietitian-approved fueling station program at 22 commissaries in February. More stores will be added later this month in phase two of the roll out.

The stations offer service members nutritious fueling foods they can use to build a meal or enjoy a before- or after-work out snack – items they can take on missions or stock in their barracks, said Bill Moore, DeCA director and CEO.

“Our fueling stations help show young service members that their commissary is a great destination for dietitian-approved, quick meals and snacks that are tasty and won’t require them to spend their time frequenting fast food establishments,” Moore said. “We hope to further our footprint of being their meal-time location to help maximize their performance and their health.”

The following commissaries have fueling stations: in Virginia – Fort Belvoir, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Fort Myer, Langley Air Force Base, Naval Station Norfolk, Fort Lee and Naval Air Station Oceana; in Maryland – Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Andrews Air Force Base; in Florida – Naval Air Station Jacksonville and MacDill Air Force Base; in Oklahoma – Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base; Fort Bragg South, North Carolina; Fort Benning, Georgia; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; McChord Air Force Base, Washington; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Riley, Kansas and Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.

The fueling stations vary in size, space and makeup by store based on available space. All items for the stations are approved by Deborah Harris, registered dietitian and DeCA health and wellness program manager, MPH, RD, CDE.*

“The fueling station has been well received by our patrons,” said John Blythe, store director at Fort Belvoir, one of the pilot locations for fueling stations. “It offers a vast selection of healthier food, snack and refreshments that allows our patrons to make healthier nutritional choices. Our dedicated merchandising unit allows for a convenient central point of sale with products that have been dietitian-approved! We have noticed a significant sales lift on these products and we are proud to support the installation in their health and wellness needs.” 

Before launching the program, the commissary agency piloted it in 14 stores to promote the concept to those installations that their commissary can support weekly grocery shoppers as well as young soldiers who need a quick meal and snack destination, said Bonita Moffett, DeCA sales director. 

“Commissaries are a key player in the ‘fueling for performance’ messaging being delivered throughout the force that connects the importance of nutrition and diet to overall readiness,” Moffett said.

*Harris has a Masters of Public Health degree, and is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator.

“Our fueling stations target young service members who may not be cooking their own meals nor be in the habit of a weekly shopping pattern,” she added. “Our ready-to-eat program can save customers’ time and money while raising the nutritional focus of our younger shoppers by giving them a quick meal and snack option besides fast food.” 

The refueling station launch follows the commissaries’ release of the new Dietitian-Approved Thumb program (DAT) which uses DeCA-designed software to analyze and identify products in most of the commissary food categories based on up to 86 of the FDA-defined health attributes. The attributes analyzed identify dietitian-approved foods that limit added sugar, sodium and unhealthy fat while offering whole grains, healthy fats, fiber or lean protein.

Whether it’s fueling stations or the DAT nutrition guide, DeCA is engaged in identifying the commissary as one of several DOD focal points for health and wellness in the following ways:

• Targeted messaging such as “Cook More Meals at Home,” “Dietitian-Approved,” “We did the Work for You,” and “Fuel with Us,” to connect young troops with the nutritious items in their stores
•  Increasing stock lists of dietitian-approved and ready-to-eat, single serving and ethnic frozen entrees 
• Working with industry partners to promote “Better for You” products and incorporating past military leaders as brand ambassadors to reinforce to service members  that the commissary is their top option as a fueling source
• Raising the ante with installation health advisors, branch dietitians, wellness center staffs, morale-welfare-recreation (MWR) outlets and liaisons with enlisted troops to help educate younger customers about nutrition and healthy eating patterns

“The commissary scores the highest on the installation per the Military Nutrition Environment Assessment Tool and this further reinforces that we are the place to access nutritious foods to include ready-to-eat meals,” Moore said. “We should be considered by our military community as a key asset in achieving health and wellness goals, as well as supporting their individual readiness.

“We want our service members, especially those on the go performing their missions, to know their commissary is a safe, quick and easy option to meet their fueling needs,” he added. “Although this effort was launched with our busy service members in mind, we hope that busy families use it, too.”

-DeCA-

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        12-21                                                                                                                        

Date:                              February 18, 2021

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

‘Salute to Excellence’

Commissaries’ Freedom’s Choice Enhanced Water earns more industry honors for taste, label design

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – The Defense Commissary Agency’s Freedom’s Choice Enhanced Water received the Private Label Manufacturers Association’s 2020 Salute to Excellence Award virtually through the PLMA’s Private Label Week event Feb. 1-5.

DeCA’s commissary store brand product emerged as a winner in the water category out of over 700 product submissions from 55 North American retailers in 68 categories. The submissions were tested and judged by evaluators from consumer and industry groups.

Taste was among the attributes lauded by PLMA judges. This is a key component to the product’s quality, said Bill Moore, DeCA director and CEO.

“The taste of our water is enhanced through an electrolysis process which is recognized as the premier technology for creating pure drinking waters,” Moore said. “The added electrolytes create a healthful drinking water that is perfect for after workout refueling – without adding calories.”

Because of social distancing restrictions linked to COVID-19 safety precautions, the PLMA replaced its traditional award display at its Chicago Trade Show with a “Salute to Excellence” winners video aired during the association’s virtual Private Label Week.

The water’s package label also drew praise. The look was a collaborative effort from the JPG Global and the SpartanNash design teams, said Jennifer Ferrell,DeCA’s private label program manager. SpartanNash is DeCA’s private label distributor.

“With the label design we wanted to capture the fluidity of the ocean along with the colors of our Freedom’s Choice logo,” Ferrell said. “We also wanted a design that would stand out from other waters so our customers would understand the elevated benefits of our product.

“Many of our customers have a dedicated exercise regimen, and we knew it was important to get the design and taste right while still ensuring optimal mineral replenishment,” she added. “We believe that this design accomplishes this, and we’re so honored that our industry colleagues noticed.”

DeCA’s Freedom’s Choice Enhanced Water was initially recognized in August 2020 when it received the 2020 Gold Vertex Award for packaging.

Besides the Freedom’s Choice brand, which includes food products, DeCA’s commissary store brands lineup also includes the HomeBase brand for non-food items including paper towel and tissue products, garbage bags and other household items.

Commissary Store Brands are also sold under TopCare (health and beauty), Full Circle Market (natural and organic food options), Tippy Toes (baby products), Flock’s Finest (wild bird food); Pure Harmony (pet food) and Wide Awake (coffee beverages). Crav’n Flavor (comfort food favorites) will be coming soon to commissary shelves.

Crav’n Flavor, TopCare, Full Circle Market, Tippy Toes, Flock’s Finest, Pure Harmony and Wide Awake are not exclusive to DeCA.

Since DeCA introduced its private label program in 2017, the agency has added over 1,000 private label products. Store brand sales in fiscal 2020 were over $136 million and the program moved almost 62 million units.

-DeCA-

St. Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. The legends that surround him that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and shared the Trinity through the use of the Irish clover, the shamrock, led to the celebration of St. Patrick. The secular holiday began in the United States in the 1700s and has grown over the years. While the potato famine occurred in Ireland, there was meat readily available in America, making corned beef a welcome addition to the potato and making dishes like corned beef brisket a staple for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The International Aisle is a bevy of options for traditional Irish goods. Start St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Oatmeal that is truly hearty. There are several stone-ground mustards available in the International Aisle with varying levels of spice or kick. A seasonal favorite is Irish Potato Flakes – once made and kale or cabbage added with heavy cream makes the traditional Irish mashed potatoes of Colcannon.

Outside of the International aisle, the meat department offers plenty of options. Pre-packaged containers of brisket with carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and spices are all ready to go in one convenient package. When you get home, all that is needed is to put it in a stew pot with the required amount of liquid and viola – a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal is ready to go. If you prefer, corned beef can be picked up in the meat department. The produce section offers a bounty of potato choices in addition to carrots (maybe even mix up the colors with rainbow carrots) and cabbage. Pickling spices are available in the Deli and/or spice aisle.

If Irish Seafood Chowder is your celebratory dish for St. Patrick’s Day, pick up any variety of seafood from the seafood counter from salmon, trout, or shellfish. The vegetables for the stew vary based on taste but can include celery, potatoes, or cabbage.

If you want to make your own pickling spice mix, hit the spice aisle to pick up whole peppercorns, bay leaves, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, crushed red pepper flakes, allspice berries, ground mace, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, or ground ginger. The recipe for corned beef and cabbage pickling spices vary, so stick with the spices you know and use after making the pickling spice mix. Some basic pickling spice mix would be mustard seeds, allspice berries, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.

If you want pre-made Irish Soda Bread, check out the deli for a selection of different sized loaves of bread, some made into the size of muffins. The deli is a great place to get sugar cookies in shamrock shapes to decorate at home or even pre-decorated for a non-traditional but sweet treat.

For the adults in the home, if Irish Coffee is the cocktail of choice to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, pick up a strong, bold ground coffee and sugar from the commissary in preparation. If you are looking to make it a 21 and up only cocktail, don’t forget to stop by the Class 6 or Package store for Irish Whiskey like Jameson.

Things to get from the Commissary for your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration:

• Corned beef
• Cabbage
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Pickling Spices
• Stone-Ground Mustard
• Seafood as desired
• Celery
• Irish Oatmeal
• Irish Soda Bread
• Shamrock Cookies
• Heavy Cream
• Strong Ground Coffee
• Sugar

What will you eat this St. Patrick’s Day?

FORT LEE, Va. – Commissary overall worldwide customer savings were 25 percent for fiscal 2020, reported the Defense Commissary Agency.

The latest savings report reflects the market basket average that compares the pricing of commissary products with retailers outside the gate.

When it comes to delivering the commissary benefit, the savings are the thing for Bill Moore, DeCA’s director and CEO.

“To me it’s all about the benefit; how do we deliver the 23.7 percent savings our Congress mandated,” Moore said. “The analogy I like to use is for every dollar spent in the commissary, you have roughly saved yourself a quarter compared to what you would have spent outside the commissary. Across the agency, if we have $4 billion in revenue, we’ve saved our customers around the globe a $1 billion in their grocery expenses with the 25 percent savings we achieved in 2020.”

Congress requires that DeCA maintain the global savings at levels reasonably consistent with the fiscal 2016 baseline of 23.7 percent. “I am confident in the way we measure, the savings are real,” Moore said. “I do believe we need to better educate our eligible patrons on the savings and then we have to earn their trust. I want to show them how we calculate and develop those savings, and then let them reach their own conclusions.”

The customer savings reflects DeCA’s partnership with its industry partners to consistently offer patrons the lowest prices possible through programs such as the agency’s Your Everyday Savings (YES)! Program. YES! lowers prices year-round on trending items that commercial retailers often reduce temporarily as “loss leaders” to attract customers into their stores hoping they’ll buy their higher-priced products.

DeCA also sells private label products, known as commissary store brands, which offer high-quality products at even lower prices. “Every grocery chain offers private label items, and it’s an option our patrons expect in their commissaries,” Moore said. “I’m very excited about the private label opportunities we have, and how we will refine our strategy going forward.” 

The customer savings report also shows figures specific to each geographic area, indicating how much, on average, a patron could expect to save on grocery purchases in comparison with local grocers in that area. DeCA measures savings for a region so it can better monitor how much commissary patrons actually save in the geographic area in which they shop.

The agency also checks local prices at major retailers near commissaries, quarterly, to see how DeCA pricing compares in order to ensure that commissary customers are saving money when they shop their commissary.

Because the cost of living varies by geographic region, Congress requires DeCA to report on savings regionally. DeCA compares prices with commercial grocers, including at least one supercenter, in the local area of each commissary in the United States. The savings comparison measures 38,000 items at a regional level and local prices of about 1,000 products, which are representative of a shopper’s typical market basket.

“It is all about the benefit,” Moore said. “I do believe the savings make a significant difference to our customers’ quality of life. Even after my father retired from the Army as a combat veteran, I remember him and my mom passing several grocery stores for their weekly visit to the commissary because of the savings.”

            The fiscal 2020 patron savings versus the fiscal 2016 baseline are provided as follows (percentages rounded to the nearest tenth):

For information on savings by region, see the tables below.

FY 2020 SAVINGS VS. BASELINE OVERALL
AREA	FY 2016 BASELINE % SAVINGS	FY 2020 % SAVINGS
Total U.S. (including AK & HI)	20.2%	21.1%
Overseas	44.2%	42.6%
Global	23.7%	25.0%

Table 1

FY 2020 SAVINGS VS. BASELINE U.S. BY REGION
REGION	FY 2016 BASELINE % SAVINGS	FY 2020 % SAVINGS
New England (25 stores)	21.4%	21.8%
South Atlantic (22 stores)	19.9%	18.7%
North Central (13 stores)	20.2%	21.4%
South Central (26 stores)	18.1%	18.9%
Mountain (15 stores)	17.6%	20.0%
Pacific (22 stores)	20.9%	22.6%
Alaska & Hawaii (7 stores)	32.6%	33.2%
Total U.S. (130 stores)	20.2%	21.1%

Table 2

Note: Baseline percent savings for all U.S. commissaries shopped in Fall 2016 (177 commissaries)

-DeCA-

1. An orange – maybe just one if you live overseas and dealing with OCONUS prices, but stateside one whole bag can stretch across your entire family’s stockings! Apples are also awesome additions to the stocking – any fruit that won’t bruise while in the stocking.
2. Dried fruit – dried mango, apricots, figs in the produce aisle are healthier versions of fruit snacks.
3. Spiced nuts – usually on an end cap or in the produce aisle, pre-shelled nuts with holiday spices are a yummy treat and perfectly fit in a stocking.
4. Cookie decorating décor – fun sprinkles, tube icing, almond extract are the perfect stocking stuffers for the little baker – get in on the baking after the holidays with some fun decorating items from the baking aisle.
5. Hot cocoa packets – Grab a packet or two of specialty cocoas to try a variety!
6. Single-serve coffee – for the adults, consider a new canned coffee or instant coffee powder for a caffeine pick me up.
7. Cider packets – specialty flavored cider packets like caramel apple or apple spice are a fun addition to the stocking without having to commit to a whole box.
8. Spice mix – the International aisle has a bounty of spice mixes from all around the world – curry or enchilada mixes are perfect to pair with that holiday turkey for fun leftovers, grab a packet or box to put in the stocking.
9. Sauce – the International Aisle has jarred sauces like tikka masala, adobo, or marinara – there are so many options, consider getting one for yourself!
10. International Treats – One more time for the International aisle – from German bread mixes to British cookies, you really can’t go wrong with choosing a treat from this aisle.
11. Movie style candy – check out the candy aisle to grab each family members’ favorite movie candies to prep for a family movie night
12. Holiday treats – Check out the holiday display for other International Holiday foods like mince pies, German cookies, or the traditional fruit cake – try something new!

The commissary is a great place to stock up on stocking stuffers. Foodstuffs can add pizazz to meal making, which we could all use a little extra of this year. Bonus that this is a one-stop shop if you are already shopping for the holiday meal! Happy Shopping!

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        90-20                                                                                                                        

Date:                              November 16, 2020

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Commissaries announce holiday schedule

By DeCA Corporate Communications

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – Military commissaries will operate under a holiday schedule beginning Nov. 23, the Defense Commissary Agency announced.

The announcement means that many of the commissaries normally closed on Mondays will be open Nov. 23, expanding available shopping hours for patrons preparing for their holiday meals. Similarly, most stores will also be open Monday, Dec. 21, except for Hario Village Housing Area, Japan; U.S. Army Garrison Garmisch, Germany; Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona; and Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska.

All commissaries will be open on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) except for Robinson Barracks, Germany, which is closed Dec. 31.

All commissaries will be closed on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26), Christmas (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1).

Patrons are reminded to check the “Store Information & Holiday Hours” box on their store’s webpage for specific operating schedules.

“We hope that our schedule helps patrons to maximize their benefit and save money over the holidays,” said Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director.

-DeCA-

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        74-20                                                                                                                        

Date:                              Sept. 22, 2020

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Focusing on family meals

Commissaries help customers save money as they shop for the products to cook more at home

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – Until 2020, the frequency of family meals prepared at home was on the decline. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing and sharing meals at home snapped back into focus, becoming the norm. 

During September’s Family Meals Month, the Defense Commissary Agency hopes military families focus on the benefits of cooking and eating meals together and will, hopefully, keep home-cooking a tradition long after the threat of the pandemic recedes.

“Engaging the family to prepare a home-cooked meal and share it around the dinner table can have overwhelmingly positive benefits,” said Deborah Harris, DeCA’s dietitian and health and wellness program manager, MPH, RD, CDCES (Masters of Public Health, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist). “One of the best potential benefits is improving the nutrition quality of the family diet.”

Even those who are living alone, including service members in the barracks, can adopt the healthy habit of cooking more meals at home. Choosing a combination of ready-to-eat, semi-prepared, and fresh items, can add momentum to your nutrition game and help make the most of your hard work during physical activity.

Simply cooking a baked potato in the microwave and topping it with frozen broccoli, cheese, and deli meats is a fraction of the cost of visiting a fast-food drive through. The commissary offers many choices of frozen pizza and other frozen entrees and are much less expensive than eating out. Stock your fridge so you always have something on hand when you don’t feel like cooking.

Preparing and eating meals at home is a better choice for many reasons:

• Meals can be more nutritious and may taste better since there is more control and awareness of all the ingredients going into the meal
• Portion sizes are much easier to manage
• Children learn from observation. Healthy habits, such as cooking more meals at home, will carry over into their adulthood. Taking part in preparing meals will teach children how to plan, prepare and serve 
• Cooking meals together at home encourages quality family time and creates memories
• Meals prepared at home will generally save the family money
• The entire family can be involved in using resources to develop meal plans and manage shopping lists

“Designed with our families in mind, the Defense Commissary Agency offers a large assortment of easy-to-prepare, dietitian-approved recipes, many of which are customizable for picky eaters, always one click away on commissaries.com,” Harris said. “Visit the recipes link and filter by clicking “dietitian approved.”

DeCA is continually adding new healthy recipes to commissaries.com, ensuring military customers have the tools they need to improve the nutrition quality of their diet. There are even recipes from celebrity chef Robert Irvine, who develops delicious, nutritious recipes just for commissary customers.

Customers can also visit the “Healthy Living” tab on commissaries.com to learn nutrition tips, set goals and download meal planning resources, menus and no-fuss meal plans, all designed to help meet their health and wellness goals.

Click on the “Thinking Outside the Box” link to open a list of meals that include recipes and nutrition education. Use these to set goals while teaching the family about the nutrition attributes of the recipes you choose to try. Customers are encouraged to contact DeCA via social media to give their feedback on recipes, share photos and pass on any adaptation they’ve made at home.

“During September’s Family Meals Month, I challenge our families to set a goal of cooking at least two additional weekly meals at home,” said Harris. “If time is an issue, purchase prepared meals from our deli or frozen foods section. In addition, getting kids involved with making their snacks is a great way to try new foods, build skills and enjoy time being with you in the kitchen. Snacks can be as simple as preparing a cheese and cracker plate with some fresh fruit. 

“All these suggestions are a great way to save time and still get the family together around the table,” she added. “And don’t forget to give our commissary brands and Your Everyday Savings! items a try – helping you to save big at the register.” 

-DeCA-

Commissary patrons can save on groceries, other supplies for their emergency kits

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – During September, National Preparedness Month highlights the significance of being ready for emergencies. This is a message the Defense Commissary Agency takes to heart as it helps its customers save on many of the items they should include in their survival kits.

“When an emergency occurs – bad weather, manmade event or pandemic – you’re either prepared or you’re not,” said Tracie Russ, DeCA’s director of sales. “We want our customers to know their commissary benefit is here for them so they can be prepared now.”

 The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month is “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” The month is separated into four activities: Sept. 1-5 – make a plan; Sept. 6-12 – build a kit; Sept. 13-19 – prepare for disasters; and Sept. 20-26 – teach youth about preparedness.

From April through Oct. 31, DeCA’s severe weather promotional package helps customers prepare their survival kits with discounts on the following items: beef jerky and other assorted meat snacks, soup and chili mixes, canned goods, powdered milk, cereals, batteries, airtight bags, weather-ready flashlights, tape (all-weather, heavy-duty shipping and duct), first aid kits, lighters, matches, lanterns, candles, hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes. Specific items may vary from store to store.

Whether it’s Mother Nature or a manmade crisis, emergency preparedness officials encourage prior planning with a disaster supply kit that includes the following items:

• COVID-19 protection – reusable or disposable face coverings, disposable gloves, hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, hand soap
• Water – at least one gallon daily, per person (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Nonperishable foods – canned meats, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cereal, crackers, cookies, energy bars, granola, peanut butter, and foods for infants and the elderly (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Paper goods – writing paper, paper plates, paper towels and toilet paper
• Writing utensils – pens, pencils (manual pencil sharpeners), markers
• Cooking items – pots, pans, baking sheets, cooking utensils, charcoal, a grill and a manual can opener
• First-aid kit – including bandages, medicines and prescription medications
• Cleaning materials – bleach, sanitizing spray, and hand and laundry soap
• Toiletries – personal hygiene items and moist wipes
• Pet care items – food, water, muzzle, leash, carrier, medications, medical records, and identification and immunization tags
• Lighting accessories – flashlights, batteries, candles and matches
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Duct tape, scissors
• Multipurpose tool
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Maps of the area
• Blankets or sleeping bags

“Even with COVID-19, we still want our customers to be prepared,” Russ said. “However, we recommend they buy what they need and avoid unnecessary hoarding to ensure products are available for others.”

For more information about disaster preparedness, go to the DeCA website for lists of resources.

            For more information about National Preparedness Month, go to Ready.gov where there are also links to more resources such as the Hurricane Seasonal Preparedness Digital Toolkit. Military families can also find information on emergency procedures specific to their service.

-DeCA-