Trainee sailors at HMS Raleigh have been given an insight into the benefits of a good diet, regular exercise and medical checks as the key to living a healthy life.
The training base in Torpoint staged a healthy lifestyle event in the gymnasium, with experts on hand to offer advice and guidance. Around 200 recruits undergoing their specialist training and members of HMS Raleigh’s Ship’s company attended the event.
Staff and trainees from the Defence Maritime Logistics School brought along some healthy sweet potato muffins and chocolate brownies.
Trainee Chef Leon Shelly said: “We have made these because they are the healthier option.”
Fellow trainee Chef David Smith added: “Instead of going for a chocolate chip muffin we have the sweet potato muffin and have taken away the sugar and flour in the brownies replacing with protein powder.”
Nutrition advice was also available from ESS, the company that delivers catering services at the Royal Navy’s training base. Attendees were challenged to get on the Smoothie bike and use pedal power to run the blender to make a healthy fruit drink.
Other organisations on hand to give healthy tips included Plymouth Life Centre, Marjons, Total Fitness and China Fleet Club.
Medical and dental staff from within HMS Raleigh were also available for general health advice, while the PT department offered up some physical challenges and a chance for people to try their hand at the climbing wall.
The event was organised by Leading Physical Trainer Mark Wright. He said: “The aim of today is to promote healthy living throughout the military. We have a wide range of stances available with experts on hand to offer advice.
"Being healthy not only extends your life, it improves your general well-being.
"Our trainees have PT sessions built into their timetables and, for others, depending on who they are and what they want to do I would recommend anything from three to six work-out sessions a week.
"Overall I think the event has turned out really well.”
