The Army Dietitian in Panama: Military Hospital Feeding and Humanitarian Efforts during Operation Just Cause

Abstract

The delivery of nutrition during a military conflict creates added demands on food service operations. Dietitians in the United States Army assisted the civilian population in Panama by participating in humanitarian feeding efforts during Operation Just Cause from December 1989 to January 1990. They provided hospital nutrition under combat conditions and assisted in a displaced-persons camp by developing an Emergency Food Plan that incorporated indigenous foods. The Army Medical Specialist Corps instituted training programs to prepare Army dietitians for refugee feeding in the post-Cold War era as a result of the lessons learned during this and other humanitarian efforts.