How should Marines adjust their diet if they have non-musculoskeletal (NMS) injuries?

Marines with non-musculoskeletal (NMS) injuries should maintain a diet that aligns with Body Composition Military Appearance Program (BCMAP) standards. This approach is crucial as it ensures that they are still adhering to the nutritional guidelines that promote overall health, recovery, and optimal body composition even while they may not be as physically active due to their injuries.

Maintaining a diet suitable for BCMAP standards helps to balance the need for healing with the necessity of avoiding excessive weight gain or loss, which can be detrimental during recovery. This diet focuses on providing essential nutrients while helping to manage caloric intake appropriately, considering that their activity level may have decreased temporarily.

Other options, such as increasing calorie intake without regard to nutrient quality, could lead to unwanted weight gain, which is counterproductive during the recovery period. Avoiding dietary restrictions altogether could result in imbalanced nutrition. Focusing solely on protein intake neglects the need for a well-rounded diet that includes carbohydrates and fats vital for recovery and energy. Therefore, adhering to BCMAP standards represents a balanced approach to nutrition that supports recovery and maintains a healthy body composition.