R 041630Z JAN 10 

ALCOAST 004/10
COMDTNOTE 4061
SUBJ: CHOOSE HEALTHY OPTIONS WISELY (CHOW) ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR FOOD
SERVICE
1. THE CHOW IS AN ASSESSMENT TOOL DESIGNED TO HELP UNITS EVALUATE
THE AVAILABILITY OF HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE,
DETERMINE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND LEARN HOW TO IMPLEMENT
STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY EATING AND SNACKING HABITS.
2. USING A SIMPLE CHECKLIST, UNITS ASSESS THEIR DINING FACILITY,
VENDING MACHINES, CLUBS AND/OR ANY OTHER VENUE WHICH OFFERS FOOD.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE ASSESSMENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT UNITS
SEND A COPY OF THE RESULTS TO THEIR REGIONAL HEALTH PROMOTION
MANAGER (HPM) AND FOOD SERVICE ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TEAM (FSAT)
FOR FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
3. EVEN SMALL IMPROVEMENTS CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT. HPMS AND FSATS
ARE AVAILABLE TO WORK WITH THE UNIT TO PRIORITIZE AREAS THAT NEED
IMPROVEMENT, IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE
GOALS.
4. THE CHOW ASSESSMENT TOOL IS AVAILABLE ON THE COMDT (CG-11)
WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE/, CLICK ON "FOOD SERVICE."
IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE FS SUBJECT MATTER SPECIALIST WEBPAGE AT
HTTP://CGWEB.TCPET.USCG.MIL, CLICK ON "FOOD SERVICE COURSE WRITER
SITE", THEN "FS HEALTH PROMOTIONS."
5. COMDT (CG-1111) POC FOR FOOD SERVICE QUESTIONS IS FSC DENA
REAGAN, 202-475-5151, DENA.L.REAGAN(AT)USCG.MIL. COMDT (CG-1111)
POC FOR HEALTH PROMOTION QUESTIONS IS LT TIMOTHY MERRELL,
202-475-5146, TIMOTHY.M.MERRELL(AT)USCG.MIL.
6. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.