Ultra-Processed Foods: What Veterans Need to Know After years of structure menus and meals times, the civilian grocery store can feel like a whole new adventure to begin with, and we’ll dive into how to tackle the grocery store in future issues. This month, we wanted to engage a new and common term that is getting a lot of attention in the news, on social media, and in wellness circles: “Ultra-processed foods.” We are going to spend this issue outlining what “ultra-processed” means and exploring if we, as a community, need to adjust our buying and eating habits because of it. MilitaryConnected.org is a nonprofit organization improving the military-connected community’s transition experience through employer education, data driven research, and access to a network of job opportunities with military-ready employers. The Vegetus Foundation is dedicated to helping Americans improve their quality of life through education on healthy living and has published the Nutrition Health Review since 1979. Learn more at nutritionhealthreview.com What are ultra-processed foods? A good rule of thumb is, does the food seem manufactured vs. prepared? Ultra-processed food production involves numerous industrial steps and equipment not used in regular food preparation. Their design is focused on taste and shelf

Strengthening the Foundation of Veteran Wellness For veterans and transitioning service members, the journey to wellness extends far beyond individual health practices. While activity, recovery, mental health, and nutrition form essential pillars of wellbeing, there’s another crucial element that binds these components together: community. Today, we’re proud to introduce community as our fifth pillar of veteran wellness, recognizing the profound impact that social connections and support networks have on the military-to-civilian transition and long-term wellbeing. MilitaryConnected.org is a nonprofit organization improving the military-connected community’s transition experience through employer education, data driven research, and access to a network of job opportunities with military-ready employers. The Vegetus Foundation is dedicated to helping Americans improve their quality of life through education on healthy living and has published the Nutrition Health Review since 1979. Learn more at nutritionhealthreview.com Why Community Matters The transition from military to civilian life represents one of the most significant changes in a service member’s journey. During active duty, service members operate within a clear structure, surrounded by peers who understand their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. In civilian life, maintaining these connections while building new ones becomes essential for: Support During Transition: Fellow veterans who have successfully navigated the civilian

Transitioning from military to civilian life is a comprehensive journey that demands a thoughtful approach to personal well-being. This issue, we’ll discuss an element of holistic health that is familiar to all Veterans – physical activity. With that said, we have as much to unlearn as we have to learn about physical activity. The military’s goals and outcomes for physical activity differ from our personal civilian journey. Our military is and should be creating a lethal fighting force in the present, we are creating routines that enable us both in the present and are sustainable into the future. For example, 10 side straddle hops in preparation for a five-mile run with minimal stretching after is recipe for injury. When we are 20 this isn’t as big of a risk, but as we age the margin for error diminishes. Taking a holistic approach to our physical activity isn’t a recommendation, it’s a requirement if we want to continue an active lifestyle. In the military, physical activity can often be treated as a stand-alone activity, but that only works for 20 and 30 somethings, not 40 somethings. With thoughtful planning we can work to reduce risk and continue performance at the highest

Identity Shift: Finding Yourself in the Civilian Workforce Before we leave the service, we start grappling with a change to a core element of our identity. In a sense, our job search and transition to the civilian world is beginning. Whether we realize it or not, we are shaping our transition experience and choosing who we will be as civilians well before we ETS. MilitaryConnected.org is a nonprofit organization improving the military-connected community’s transition experience through employer education, data driven research, and access to a network of job opportunities with military-ready employers. The Vegetus Foundation is dedicated to helping Americans improve their quality of life through education on healthy living and has published the Nutrition Health Review since 1979. Learn more at nutritionhealthreview.com Resilience: Navigating the Ebbs & Flows of Civilian Life For most of us, finding the right job in the right location is a process. It will likely be an iterative experience. There are certain paths like law enforcement, government, or education that will offer a stable and predictable experience, but for many veterans and spouses, transition is something new. With opportunity, there is also risk. It’s OK to be both excited for the next chapter and recognize