Eat Like A Soldier: Army Base Seeks Local Meal Testers

NATICK, MA — This is your chance to live like a U.S. Army soldier — from the relative comfort of the Mass Pike corridor.

The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) at the Soldier Systems Center in Natick is working on new battlefield nutrition options for soldiers. Researchers are seeking local residents to eat like a soldier to see how easy the meals are to swallow.

"[R]esearchers hope to discover how new knowledge of the gut microbiome, protein and carbohydrate metabolism and the immune system could improve future military rations and nutrition guidance for warfighters," USARIEM said in a news release. "The overarching goal of this work is to improve performance on the battlefield and help protect troops from illness."

The base is seeking volunteers for four different nutrition studies. The studies range from drinking a protein beverage to testing a high-altitude nutritional supplement. Participants must meet certain requirements, and must be able to travel to the base in Natick. Each study comes with some form of compensation ranging from $100 to over $1,000.

Find out more about qualifications and how to apply for the four different studies on the USARIEM website.