AF Form 2579 Nourishment: Download & Guide | Air Force – AF Form 2579, commonly known as the Nourishment form, is an official U.S. Air Force document used in Nutritional Medicine (NM) operations within Air Force Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs). It supports patient feeding by documenting and requesting nourishments (snacks or supplemental feedings) provided to inpatients beyond standard meals.
This form helps ensure accurate tracking of additional dietary items ordered for clinical needs, such as snacks between meals, items for blood sugar management, or supplements aligned with therapeutic diets. Proper use of AF Form 2579 contributes to effective nutrition care, regulatory compliance, and resource accountability in military healthcare settings.
What Is AF Form 2579 Used For?
In Air Force hospitals and clinics, patients often require nourishments — small, between-meal feedings or supplemental items — to support recovery, manage conditions like diabetes, maintain energy levels, or address malnutrition risks. AF Form 2579 serves as the documentation tool for these requests, particularly for bulk or additional nourishments.
Key uses include:
- Documenting the type of food or beverage provided (e.g., juice, crackers, yogurt, or diet-specific items).
- Recording quantity, date, and time of preparation and service.
- Ensuring compliance with the patient’s current diet order (e.g., low-sodium, diabetic, or pureed diets).
- Supporting inventory control and financial accountability for subsistence used in patient feeding.
It is distinct from related forms:
- AF Form 2568 — Nourishment Request (often for individual or initial requests).
- AF Form 1741 — Used to log individual nourishments.
- AF Form 2508 — Calorie Count.
- AF Form 2573 — Diet Census (for tracking overall workload).
Note: While some older references or training materials may link AF Form 2579 to nutritional assessment of dietary intake, the form’s primary title and function in AFMAN 44-144 is tied to nourishment requests and tracking. Always verify with the current PDF from official sources.
Who Uses AF Form 2579?
- Nutritional Medicine (NM) personnel — Registered Dietitians (RDs), diet technicians, and food service staff in MTFs prepare, approve, and deliver nourishments.
- Nursing Service — Typically orders bulk nourishments and signs for receipt.
- Authorized healthcare providers — Order additional nourishments as part of medical nutrition therapy (MNT).
The form operates under guidance in AFMAN 44-144, Nutritional Medicine (20 January 2016, the latest publicly referenced version), which outlines policies for nutrition education, medical nutrition therapy, and resource management in Air Force MTFs.
Nourishments must strictly comply with the patient’s diet order (documented via AF Form 1094 or electronic equivalents) and are for patient use only — not for staff or visitors.
How to Complete and Process AF Form 2579?
While the official form PDF provides field-specific layout, general steps based on AFMAN 44-144 and standard NM procedures include:
- Patient Identification — Include full name, unit, room number, and other required identifiers (two patient identifiers for Joint Commission compliance).
- Nourishment Details — Specify food/beverage items, quantity, and any special preparation instructions (e.g., sugar-free, low-fat).
- Timing — Record preparation date/time, serving time, and expiration (nourishments are time-sensitive for safety).
- Diet Order Compliance — Verify against the current therapeutic diet.
- Signatures — Include preparer, approver (e.g., RD), and receiver (Nursing Service for bulk deliveries).
- Labeling — Individual nourishments require labels with all details; bulk items follow local delivery protocols.
Individual vs. Bulk Nourishments:
- Individual items are often ordered on AF Form 2568 and logged on AF Form 1741.
- Bulk requests (e.g., for a unit or multiple patients) frequently route through AF Form 2579 or equivalent, with Nursing signing for delivery.
All nourishments must be stored properly (refrigerators at 34–40°F, freezers at 0°F) and monitored for safety and sanitation per AFI 48-116 and HACCP principles.
Download the Official AF Form 2579: Access the current fillable PDF directly from the Air Force e-Publishing site:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_sg/form/af2579/af2579.pdf
Always use the most recent version from e-Publishing.af.mil to ensure compliance.
Integration with Broader Nutrition Care in Air Force MTFs
AF Form 2579 fits into the larger Nutrition Care Process (NCP):
- Screening — Patients are screened for nutrition risk within 24 hours of admission.
- Assessment — Tools like calorie counts and intake/output records (DD Form 792) complement nourishment documentation.
- Intervention — Includes therapeutic diets, enteral/parenteral nutrition, and between-meal nourishments.
- Monitoring — Supports performance improvement (PI) tracking for patient outcomes.
Patient feeding follows the Patient Basic Daily Food Allowance (PBDFA), with a supplemental allowance (often ~15%) for nourishments and special items. Meals and nourishments are charged to the medical sub-account under Essential Station Messing (ESM).
In contingency or deployed settings, similar principles apply through expeditionary medical support guidance, emphasizing efficient resource use.
Best Practices and Compliance Tips
- Clarify Ambiguous Orders — NM staff should contact the RD, provider, or Nursing for unclear requests.
- HIPAA & Privacy — Protect patient information; use “FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY” markings where required.
- Waste Reduction — Minimize over-preparation; track usage accurately for inventory and budgeting.
- Training — Diet Therapy personnel (historically AFSC-related) receive instruction on evaluating bulk requests and proper form use.
- Electronic Equivalents — Many MTFs now use electronic health records (EHR) or systems like Computrition; paper forms serve as backups or for specific tracking.
Failure to document properly can affect meal census accuracy, financial reporting, and patient safety.
Why Proper Use of AF Form 2579 Matters?
Accurate nourishment documentation supports:
- Optimal patient recovery and human performance.
- Regulatory compliance with DoD and Air Force standards.
- Efficient use of subsistence resources purchased through prime vendors or Government Purchase Cards (GPC) for urgent needs.
- High-quality Medical Nutrition Therapy in support of the Air Force Medical Service mission.
For the latest guidance, refer to AFMAN 44-144 Nutritional Medicine and consult your local MTF Nutrition Medicine Flight or Registered Dietitian.
Need the form?
Download it here: AF Form 2579 PDF
Questions about implementation? Contact your facility’s Nutritional Medicine department for MTF-specific procedures.
This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available Air Force guidance as of the latest referenced manuals. Always verify with official e-Publishing sources and local policy for current requirements.