Linking Food Motivations with Therapeutic Outdoor Recreation Outings for Veterans

Outdoor recreation continues to be utilized as Alternative Complementary Medicine among veterans and others who have experienced trauma. A popular subset of these activities are conducted as either single event or multiday outings focused on hunting and fishing. Observations of participant interest in processing and preparing the fish and game procured while engaged in outdoor recreation outings provoked initiation of a survey conducted among combat-wounded veterans. The point of this survey was to better understand the relationship of food motivations with therapeutic outdoor recreation for veterans. A remarkably large majority of veterans surveyed indicated that the food aspect of their hunting and fishing outings is very important. Veterans involved in these activities want to eat their fish and game, and they want to learn new skills and techniques for improving the culinary experience for themselves and their families. Practitioners should take note of these findings and integrate them into their respective programs for veterans.