New dorm kitchen gives a touch of home

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Airmen in the base dormitory now have an opportunity to cook for themselves.

Installed in Bldg. 795 is a new refrigerator, stove, lots of cabinet space and eating areas.

An open house was held Monday, and Marita Radloff, Health and Wellness Center registered nutritionist dietician, made a healthy snack of pizza muffins for the dozen gathered in the new space.

She was the first one to use the stainless steel stove and topped English muffins with pizza sauce, zucchini, green peppers, turkey pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.

She estimated the snack was between 250 and 350 calories depending on the topping.

"Don't knock it until you try it," Radloff said of using zucchinis. She also offered suggestions on picking the right peppers, advising airmen to pick the darkest ones because they contain the most amount of nutrients.

Learning how to cook healthier foods will be important to the airmen who buy groceries to cook instead of eating fast food.

"The kitchen allows them to cook for themselves which increases morale," said Staff Sgt. Justin Rescina, airman dorm leader.

Before, there were only four kitchenettes to share between dorm members. Just in Bldg.795, there are 70 rooms. Currently, there are 352 airmen who will be able to use the kitchen facility, Rescina said.

The community kitchen is the first of hopefully many to be installed, said unaccompanied housing manager Sherri Green.