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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2012
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DISCLAIMER
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FROM THE NEWS DESK
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Please note: The Defense Commissary Agency does not and can not endorse any product mentioned in this newsletter; any product mentioned is for informational purposes only.
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DeCA resumes sale of Enfamil PREMIUM Newborn formula
Commissary surcharge helps military
take care of its own
When military service members shop their commissary, they have the opportunity to save a substantial amount of money, while contributing to the improvement of the commissary system. That's because for almost 60 years, Congress has required commissaries to collect a surcharge on purchases to make them more self-sustaining.
"Every time our customers shop at the commissary, they are not only saving money because we sell at cost, but they are also taking care of their own," said Joseph H. Jeu, DeCA director and CEO. "Their purchases help improve commissary facilities for their brothers and sisters in uniform."
The surcharge, which has been set at 5 percent for more than 28 years, is used to build replacement stores, renovate and repair existing stores, and purchase equipment such as freezers and cash registers. These funds help maintain and modernize stores at a reduced cost to taxpayers; by law, they cannot be used for any other purpose.
[For more information visit Surcharge for the rest of the article.]
HEALTH AND FITNESS NEWS
'Feeling good' may be best New Year's resolution
By Chris Halagarda,
Navy Fitness, Performance Enhancement Dietitian
For many Americans, it's that time of year to declare New Year's resolutions. Unfortunately, too many people have previously made the decision to start exercising, eat right and lose weight as a resolution but have failed. If you have made those resolutions in the past, ask yourself what went wrong.
Over the years, it has been my experience, when talking with thousands of people about nutrition and fitness, chances are they probably "bit off more than they could chew." Meaning: They set up unrealistic goals. Maybe you said you would go to the fitness center every day, never eat cookies or cake again or even eliminate soda from the diet.
But what you really need to do is set more specific goals such as: I will go to the fitness center or exercise at home at least three times each week. I will allow myself two cookies twice a week; or, I will have one soft drink a week. Be specific and realistic!
The other important change to make is to try to change your mind-set about fat loss and exercise. For instance, rather than focusing on the way you look, focus on how you feel. With a healthier diet and increasing the intake of essential nutrients, your energy levels will increase. The increase in "feel good" hormones will make you feel better and allow you to be more productive at work and at home.
Military commissaries have resumed sale of Enfamil PREMIUM Newborn powdered formula, 12.5-ounce can, after tests by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined the product was safe, according to a statement released by the FDA Dec. 30.
The government's findings endorse Mead Johnson's test results released Dec. 25 stating the product did not contain the Cronobacter bacteria that is linked to the recent illness of four infants in Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mead Johnson is the manufacturer of Enfamil.
Although the product was never recalled, it was removed from the shelves of military commissaries Dec. 23 until the FDA/CDC testing was complete, said Cecil Mitchell, a food safety specialist for the Defense Commissary Agency.
"Ordinarily, DeCA doesn't remove product from sale unless military health officials determine there is a potential health issue or if either the manufacturer voluntarily recalls it or if an agency such as the FDA or the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] orders a recall," Mitchell said.
"However, in this instance, we removed the product out of an abundance of caution until all the tests cleared it for consumer use."
[Visit Enfamil for the rest of this article.] |
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WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
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Resolve to save more money at your commissary in 2012
Military members who are rolling out their New Year's resolutions may want to consider the commissary if their pledges involve saving money and healthy living, said the Defense Commissary Agency's sales director.
"Whether it's cash or calories, commissaries are here to help our customers save," said Chris Burns, sales director. "We are kicking off the new year with specials on healthy brands and 'good for you' recipe booklets that include greatly reduced coupons for all their 'eating right' diet changes.
"The commissaries are also gearing up for all big football parties, leading up to the king daddy of them all - the Super Bowl!" Burns added. "If they're throwing a football party in the barracks or just watching the game at home, our customers will be able to save money with coupons and better prepare their party menus with recipes designed to score a touchdown with their friends and families."
Throughout January, DeCA's industry partners - manufacturers, vendors, brokers and suppliers - will host many in-store promotions and provide extra savings focused on getting you started in the right direction for 2012. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers are asked to check their local commissary for the following super sales events:
* Special K Challenge. The Kellogg Company is offering special savings on brands such as Fiber Plus, Nutri-Grain and Right Bites. Product demonstrations will be held in stores with military coupons offering cross-category savings on produce items. In addition, customers are asked to look out for a flyer in early January announcing the Special K Challenge event and offering even more ways to save on Special K products.
* "Breakfast: Bring it On!"Quaker and Tropicana presents its 7th annual breakfast bundling event to help raise the awareness on the importance of eating a nutritious breakfast. This event will also continue to support the commissary theme, "It's Your Choice, Make It Healthy." Commissary customers can receive high-value "bounce back" coupons for the month of February by locating the Quaker and Tropicana store displays and visiting http://www.quakermilitary.com/events_promotions/. Patrons will also be able to vote for their favorite military charity - the Fisher House or Operation Homefront. The charity with the most votes will receive $4,500 worth of breakfast products, compliments of Quaker and Tropicana. * "Promises for the New Year Sale." Nestle Purina Pet Care Company is offering commissary shoppers at participating stores a chance to win free dog or cat food. Each winner will be given VIP coupons to feed one average dog or cat for six months - $132 in dog coupons and $96 in cat coupons. One winner per store will be announced the last week of January. Participating stores will have banners, signs, entry boxes and pads for customer convenience. Customers can also enjoy great savings on their favorite Purina pet brands.
* Meet country music stars. Dr Pepper and Motts are offering commissary customers a chance to meet today's most popular country music stars. Four stateside commissary customers and their guests will win trips to the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The trip packages include: roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles, roundtrip ground transportation, deluxe hotel accommodations for three nights, meal vouchers, Saturday private concert/welcome reception, Sunday ACMA telecast (two tickets) and Sunday Post All-Star Jam (two tickets). Commissary customers in Europe and in the Far East can register for a chance to win a 46-inch, big-screen television. One winner each will be chosen from Europe and the Far East.
* Big Game, Bigger Savings. ConAgra Foods is kicking off 2012 with great customer savings during its "Big Game, Bigger Savings" truckload event, offering a "Big Game Party Play Book" that includes recipes and $10 in coupon savings. Participating commissaries will host product demonstrations on Super Bowl weekend, which will include free "Big Game Party Play Books" and a demonstration of Orville Pop-Up Popcorn Bowls. The ConAgra Foods Military website, www.conagracommissarydeal.com < http://www.conagracommissarydeal.com/> , offers shoppers a list of items on sale in the commissaries, as well as printable coupons on ConAgra Foods brands. ConAgra Foods donates a portion of its truckload sales to support the Scholarship for Military Children Program. * 2012 Super Bowl Savings Spectacular. Kraft Foods is offering exclusive an in-store "Game Day" coupon and recipe flyer with more than $10 in savings. The coupon flyer features party planning tips and recipe ideas on game-day brands such as Planters nuts, Oscar Mayer deli meats, hot dogs, Claussen pickles, Nabisco favorites (Ritz, Wheat Thins, Triscuit and Oreo), Cool Whip, and Kraft natural cheeses. Kraft Foods brands have also teamed up with Coke Zero for a national game-day, gear-up event, which features coupons for savings on Nabisco cookies and crackers, Planters nuts products and Coke Zero, a game-day recipe booklet. This event also includes a celebrity chef's contest, "The Battle of the Topping" via the RITZ Crackers Facebook page. Customers can vote for their favorite Ritz topping from January through February and enter this contest for a chance to win prizes.
* Old El Paso Halftime. Customers will see displays and coupons for Old El Paso and General Mills Snacks products.
* Year of the Dragon. Chinese New Year begins the last week in January and La Choy Chinese food products and CTC Foods Company will be offering savings on its Oriental food items throughout February. These sales events will also offer recipes for preparing Chinese food dinners at home.
"Our commissaries are offering shoppers healthy beginnings for the New Year, and we want them to take advantage of all the super savings and contests and giveaways available at their stores this month," Burns said. "But it's not just in January; we work hard to offer our shoppers great savings at their commissary year round."
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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If you have questions regarding commissary issues that haven't been resolved by your store's management, we encourage you to contact DeCA's Your Action Line program at any time using our online customer comments form at http://www.commissaries.com/YAL/customer_comments.cfm. |
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SAVE EVEN MOREThese links will change each month.
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KAY'S KITCHEN
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Finish dishwashing soap
Click on http://www.finishdishwashing.com/news-and-offers.php to print money-saving coupons for FINISH® automatic dishwashing detergent products right from your computer! Plus, you can sign up to receive their free e-newsletter full of useful household tips, recipes and more!
Gorton's Coupons and Promotions
You're at the right place for Gorton's coupons, promotions and special offers when you visit http://gortons.com/coupons_promotions.htm. Gorton's promotions and coupons page changes frequently, so make sure you visit often for great savings on your favorite seafood.
LiveGlutenFreely.com
www.liveglutenfreely.com lists more than 300 General Mills products that are gluten-free and provides resources, recipes and more to help you live gluten-free.
Quaker/Tropicana/Gatorade Military
The website for Quaker/Tropicana/Gatorade Military is now LIVE! Check out http://www.quakermilitary.com/ for special offers, promotions and other information to make your shopping easier and more affordable.
Welch's
Welch's news from the grapevine allows you to be the first to hear about exclusive product and promotional announcements, coupons and valuable health and nutritional information. You can sign up by filling out the form at http://www.welchs.com/about-welchs/newsletters/sign-up to begin receiving your member benefits
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Enjoy your food - just eat less
By Kay Blakley, DeCA home economist
Have you noticed that dieting season begins almost as soon as the last of the holiday indulgences have passed our lips? We certainly notice it at your commissary - diet, low-fat, fat-free and sugar-free versions of almost every kind of food imaginable start flying off our shelves and into shopper's carts. The object is to get rid of any extra holiday pounds before they start to feel at home on your hips, and that's very smart thinking. But, if resorting to so-called diet foods leaves you feeling deprived and unsatisfied, there are other ways to successfully attack those unwanted pounds.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans includes the common sense advice to "enjoy your food -- just eat less." That means you'll need to familiarize yourself with what portion sizes actually should be. In general, it's a serving of lean protein about the size of the palm of your hand, half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables, 1 regular-size slice of bread, 1/2 cup rice or pasta, an 8-ounce carton of yogurt or 8 fluid ounces of milk, and a 1-ounce serving of nuts (that's about 13 cashews). If this is the route you choose, using a small plate will help you feel like you're eating more.
[Visit Your Food for the rest of the article and the recipes included.] 
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BABY BYTES (These links will change each month.)
Baby Magic
Baby Magic welcomes you to the wonderful world of parenting at http://www.babymagic.com, where you will find a wealth of information and support on everything you need to keep baby's skin soft, clean and healthy.
Baby Mum-Mum
The Baby Mum-Mum blog, http://www.mummums.com/, discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum, the product, is a baby rice snack that is also gluten-free.
BrandNewDad.com
Brand New Dad, www.brandnewdad.com, is a social network and resource center for new dads and expectant fathers, just like you! They invite you to register now for free and hit the forums, get exclusive special offers and set up a personal wish list.
BABY BOUTIQUE
AAFES'French Toast puts style and quality in school uniforms
There are school uniforms for everyone at French Toast. With more than 6,000 individual colors, styles and sizes, you can certainly find the uniform you need. The sizes range from toddlers to young adults and can be found on shopmyexchange.com. French Toast has been developing school uniforms since 1958 and provides those uniforms at great prices.
they'll send you information customized to your baby's age,
plus helpful tips and money-saving coupons.
Cheerios ... for new parents
Dreft - 'Gentle as a Mother's Touch'
Dreft, http://www.dreft.com/products/, with items specially formulated for baby's needs, has been helping mothers clean baby clothes for more than 75 years. Visit the "Shop for Dreft" page to find their detergents online or in a store near you.
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