Keeping fit one diet at a time

Susan Haley, 6th Areospace Medicine Squadron health promotion dietitian, instructs a Better Body, Better Life class offered by Health Promotion Services July 10, 2014 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Haley is dicussing how to have a healthy diet to help reach and maintain a healthy lifestyle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

Keeping fit one diet at a time

During a Better Body, Better Life class Susan Haley, 6th Areospace Medicine Squadron health promotion dietitian, uses a food plate to explain how to eat healthy July 10, 2014 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The food plate illustrates portion sizes for each food group during a meal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

Keeping fit one diet at a time

Susan Haley, 6th Areospace Medicine Squadron health promotion dietitian, explains food portions during a Better Body, Better Life class July 10, 2014 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Haley uses the food plate to illustrate healthy food portion sizes during the various meals of the day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jenay Randolph/Released)

Keeping fit one diet at a time

Published July 16, 2014
By Senior Airman Jenay Randolph
6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Susan Haley, 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotion dietitian, has been a dietitian and nutritionist for over 30 years, but she has been helping members of Team MacDill stay fit for the last seven years.

"We believe that fit fighters plus healthy families equal a resilient and healthy Air Force," said Haley. "Health Promotion has always been about maintaining health and preventing disease and injury as a way to get a handle on rising healthcare costs."

Haley has always wanted to help people stay healthy by starting with the basics--real food. She helps to improve the installation nutrition environment by collaborating with and reaching out to units, leadership training courses, the Commissary and Exchange with resources and interventions via classes, briefings, health-fitness expos, websites, social media and assessments.

"One of the most challenging parts of my job is convincing people that eating healthy can be tasty and satisfying," explains Haley. "On the other hand, it is rewarding to help our beneficiaries maintain a high quality of life and sense of well-being by providing coaching, guidance and resources for high quality food, healthy weight, physical activity and tobacco cessation."

Haley assists in promoting responsible and informed dietary supplement use, providing performance and sports nutrition guidance, along with providing medical nutrition therapy as part of a balanced portfolio that includes community engagement as well.

As part of Comprehensive Airman Fitness, Haley helps support the physical, mental, spiritual and social health of all Airmen, either directly with programs and outreach or indirectly by supporting other base agencies.

"I am a nutrition expert for a healthy nutrition environment, supplement safety, sports/performance nutrition, healthy weight, and disease prevention," expressed Haley. "It's the best job in the world!"