by Michael Volkin author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp
Many of my readers contact me after they graduated basic training and tell me the food tips in my book (The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook) was the most helpful. As you may or may not know, there is no snacking at basic training, recruits get three square meals a day. In addition, recruits only get a short time to eat (3 minutes if your lucky), so maximizing the time it takes to eat your meals is crucial. Below are some great tips to prepare for basic training and get the most out of your meals once you’re there:
Stop your snacking. Snacking is a habit, like smoking. In the civilian world you can snack all day and not think twice about it, but once you stop it seems to be all you think about. Take time to stop your snacking habit before you leave for basic training, its best you do so on your terms rather than the drill sergeants terms.
Think strategy not pleasure. At basic training you only get a few minutes to eat your food, so give your body what it wants. Do not fill your stomach with carbonated beverages and other empty calories (i.e. ketchup). Your goal is eat as many nutrients as possible. Always grab a meat, brown rice and bread to give you a full feeling. Going to bed hungry is not fun, especially when your body is craving food from a hard day of work.
No chit-chat. As mentioned above, time is crucial. When it’s time to eat, keep your face close to your food and begin shoveling. If you talk or look around you are wasting time and going to get in trouble.
Make a sandwich out of every piece of food you can. Since time is a precious commodity for every meal, you want to put everything you can in between two pieces of bread. Every time you raise your fork or spoon to your mouth you are wasting precious seconds. Making a sandwich is a faster way to eat.
For more strategic tips on mastering basic training meals as well as MRE tips, visit Michael Volkin's Web site .
Article Opinions
CESAR wrote:
THANKS FOR THE OPINION .I'LL KEEP IT IN MIND .
Posted on 11/16/07 00:24:09
Sheila( Mom of a Soldier) wrote:
I remember the day our son told us about how you had to eat in BCT. You do tend to shovel the food in. He also told us you still go to bed hungry because you burn off everything you do eat. It did change his eating habits though, for the better. He rarely drinks sodas & says water will cure anything. haha Never complains about what is for lunch or dinner either. It makes you apppreciate the food given to you.
Posted on 11/16/07 04:09:49
tabatha webster wrote:
i cant wait to join in on the experience
Posted on 11/20/07 13:35:36
ben wrote:
i was going to go in the army at one time but they said i had to pay off my fines first and im thinking why how come they dont pay it off i mean they want us to join the army right....
Posted on 11/20/07 15:52:30
talbott wrote:
i cant wait to go to basic training in january....
Posted on 11/20/07 15:54:16
tim troutman wrote:
man if your going to ft. jackson in jan i feel for you i went there and the weather sucks your pt test are the coldest days of the season. our final pt test was about 15-20 degrees and the wind was blowing like crazy.
Posted on 11/26/07 02:51:39
PV2 mccleery wrote:
Fort Jackson BCT isnt bad at all, its mind over matter! If you don't think you can do it you might want to change that attitude cuz the Ds will change it 4 you.
Posted on 11/26/07 14:05:56
Daniel wrote:
Okay well I was looking into joining, and now all this talk here is scaring me lol BT isnt as hard as everyone says is it? Is it worth the effort? I have no clue what im about to do but ima do it...
Posted on 11/28/07 06:31:25
Ned wrote:
All of the talk sounds good and bad i don't know what it is going to be like but i can't wait to go in january.....
Posted on 11/28/07 13:20:11
ghost wrote:
BCT is 50% mental, 50% physical....dont let them learn your name the first two weeks. as far as everything else, once your in, you aint goin nowhere..hoo-ah!
Posted on 11/30/07 08:41:26
kay wrote:
Fort Jackson Basic Training is crazy, Good Luck I't a lot of running, walking, and pt.
Posted on 11/30/07 13:13:35
Mike wrote:
FT Jackson isn't that bad i'm re-enlisting (and it's about time really). I'll take a cooler winter over 100 degree summers any day of the week.
Posted on 12/04/07 02:03:12
LaShay wrote:
I have heard so many things but i was also told to keep a positive outlook and i am so ready to leave in May!!
Posted on 04/23/08 14:27:38
melanie wrote:
I am scared about ft. jackson's bct. I am on a diet and I weigh on the low side of normal, i walk a lot, but i never run.
Posted on 07/23/08 16:16:05
PV2 Bell wrote:
I went to BCT at Ft. Jackson. It honestly wasnt as bad as I had thought it would be. mind you, you do have your difficult days, and depending on your First Sargeant, there could be a lot of Marching involoved. Overall its, fun and exciting to know you can accomplish something like that though!
Posted on 12/19/08 14:18:23
Slackson? wrote:
fort jackson is bad BCT ? LMAO ! try benning for 17 weeks, there is a reason Jackson is known as "Slackson" its a total cake BCT , OSUT is hard as hell and far longer. oh and at Jackson you get cell phones and 2 day passes during red phase? WTF is that ,, i rather have 17 weeks at Benning being trained correctly than 9 ( 8 in some cases) weeks learning how to screw off .. opinions and like arse everyone has them, but there is a reason infantry trains in one place.
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