Firehouses are more than just places of duty; they are homes away from home for firefighters. Given the demanding nature of their profession, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial. This includes not only physical fitness but also a balanced diet. Cooking and sharing meals together form a significant part of firehouse culture, fostering camaraderie and providing an avenue for stress relief. This article explores the importance of healthy firehouse meals, provides recipe ideas, and delves into the wellness practices adopted by firefighters.
The Importance of Firehouse Meals
Firefighters often spend a third of their lives at the fire station, working extended shifts. As Dudley said, "Well, obviously, we spend a third of our lives here working one day then off for two days, so this is like a second family to us." The firehouse kitchen becomes the heart of their shared experience. Fire Chief Jon Reese emphasizes, “Cooking is a huge part of fellowship around the fire station. Everything centers at the firehouse around the kitchen, the coffee pot and the table." These meals are not just about sustenance; they are about building bonds, sharing traditions, and relieving the stress inherent in their high-pressure jobs.
Traditions and Training Through Food
Meal times at the firehouse serve as an informal setting for passing on valuable lessons and traditions to new recruits. Reese notes, “There’s a lot of good lessons learned that we pass along in that informal atmosphere. It’s a good avenue to pass on our traditions.” Recruits typically start by assisting with meal preparation, such as chopping vegetables, before eventually taking charge of entire meals. This progression is seen as a rite of passage, as Reese explains: “That’s part of the dues you have to pay as a recruit firefighter - proving yourself as a good firefighter, proving yourself as a good team member and, somewhere in there, as a good cook.”
Healthy Recipe Ideas for the Firehouse
Firehouse meals need to be hearty, nourishing, and relatively easy to prepare, often catering to a group with varying tastes. Here are some recipe ideas, inspired by real firehouse favorites:
Mercer’s Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
Fire Station 80's favorite, this recipe is both healthy and convenient. Jeff, a firefighter who had to change his diet after discovering blocked arteries, is a big fan of cooking fish. He even built a smoker and barbecued the fish.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
Ingredients:
- Salmon fillets
- Assorted vegetables (e.g., broccoli, bell peppers, onions, zucchini)
- Olive oil
- Livia’s Seasoning Salt (or your preferred seasoning blend)
- Lemon wedges
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Toss vegetables with olive oil and Livia’s Seasoning Salt on a sheet pan.
- Place salmon fillets on the same sheet pan.
- Season salmon with Livia’s Seasoning Salt.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
Jeff added, “I fell in love with the stuff. It doesn’t taste artificial… It has more of a natural taste to it and it has a lot of flavor. I’ve used it on everything, you name it - French fries, fruit like watermelon."
Firehouse Meatloaf
This classic recipe has been a staple in fire stations for decades. As Reese mentioned, "That recipe (the meatloaf) has been in the drawer at several of the fire stations for 20, 25 years probably."
Ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Breadcrumbs
- Eggs
- Onion, chopped
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Shape into a loaf and place in a baking dish.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until cooked through.
Elks Loaded Potatoes
A hearty and satisfying side dish, perfect for feeding a hungry crew.
Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Cheese
- Bacon
- Sour cream
- Chives
Instructions:
- Bake potatoes until soft.
- Cut open and top with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives.
Cornbread Salad
A unique and flavorful salad that has been passed down through generations of firefighters.
Ingredients:
- Cornbread, crumbled
- Tomatoes, chopped
- Onion, chopped
- Bell pepper, chopped
- Cheese, cubed
- Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Ranch dressing
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Toss gently to combine.
- Chill before serving.
Irish Guinness Stew
Inspired by Milwaukee firefighters, this hearty stew is perfect for chilly days.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Ingredients:
- Beef stew meat
- Guinness beer
- Potatoes, cubed
- Carrots, chopped
- Onion, chopped
- Beef broth
- Thyme
- Bay leaf
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Brown beef stew meat in a large pot.
- Add onion and cook until softened.
- Pour in Guinness beer and beef broth.
- Add potatoes, carrots, thyme, and bay leaf.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until beef is tender.
Potato Corn Chowder
Another favorite of Milwaukee's Engine 27, this stew is easy to make and stick-to-your-ribs satisfying.
Ingredients:
- Potatoes, cubed
- Corn
- Onion, chopped
- Celery, chopped
- Vegetable broth
- Milk or cream
- Butter
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Melt butter in a large pot.
- Add onion and celery and cook until softened.
- Add potatoes and vegetable broth.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender.
- Add corn and milk or cream.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer until heated through.
Beef Rouladen
As a firehouse cook for 15 years, Mike says that a classic beef rouladen is always a hit.
Ingredients:
- Beef, thinly sliced
- Bacon
- Onion
- Pickles
- Mustard
- Beef broth
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Lay beef slices flat and spread with mustard.
- Top with bacon, onion, and pickles.
- Roll up tightly and secure with toothpicks or kitchen twine.
- Brown rouladen in a large pot.
- Add beef broth and simmer for 1-2 hours, or until beef is tender.
Firehouse Chili
Is it even a firehouse kitchen without a good chili?
Ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Beans (kidney, pinto, etc.)
- Tomatoes, diced
- Onion, chopped
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Garlic
- Beef broth
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Brown ground beef in a large pot.
- Add onion and garlic and cook until softened.
- Add beans, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and beef broth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or longer for a richer flavor.
Shrimp Creole
Ingredients:
- 32 oz. can of diced tomatoes
- 2.5 lbs. of peeled and deveined shrimp
- 2 lbs. of cooked rice
- Onion, chopped
- Bell pepper, chopped
- Celery, chopped
- Cajun seasoning
- Tabasco sauce (optional)
- Black pepper
Instructions:
- In a large pot, sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery until softened.
- Add diced tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add Cajun seasoning, Tabasco sauce (if using), and black pepper to taste.
- Add thawed shrimp and continue to simmer approximately 5 minutes, or until shrimp is pink and cooked through.
- Serve over cooked rice.
Nutritional Considerations
Given the physically demanding nature of firefighting, it’s important to consider the nutritional content of firehouse meals. The provided nutritional information for some of the recipes highlights the importance of balancing calories, fat, carbohydrates, and protein. For example:
- Irish Guinness Stew (1-1/4 cups): 360 calories, 13g fat, 27g protein.
- Beef Rouladen (1 each): 481 calories, 25g fat, 54g protein.
- Firehouse Chili (1 cup): 354 calories, 12g fat, 31g protein.
These examples show that firehouse meals can be both hearty and provide a good source of protein. However, it's important to be mindful of fat and sodium content and to incorporate plenty of vegetables and whole grains.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
Beyond Meals: A Culture of Wellness
The emphasis on health in the fire service extends beyond just the meals they share. Jeff’s story highlights the importance of regular health screenings. “We’re allowed to get body scans, which is kind of nice,” he says. “Once every three years, I have a scan. By doing so, they found I had two blocked main arteries, one was in the widow maker." This proactive approach to health allows firefighters to identify and address potential issues early on.
Jeff's experience also underscores the need for dietary changes when health issues arise. "I had to change my diet and I almost went on an all-plant diet. I quit eating meat and chicken, so I went with fish." His dedication to finding flavorful and healthy alternatives, like using Livia's Seasoning Salt, demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle even within the firehouse environment.
Adaptability and Stress Relief
The unpredictable nature of a firefighter's job requires adaptability. As Dudley said, “To be a firefighter requires adaptability. It’s not your typical nine-to-five, after all, and at any moment the firefighters could be called upon for an emergency." The ability to adjust to changing circumstances is crucial, and this extends to meal planning as well.
Cooking also serves as a way to relieve stress. Jeff noted that cooking is a way to relieve stress in the fire stations. The act of preparing and sharing a meal can provide a sense of normalcy and camaraderie in a high-stress environment.
Sharing and Community Engagement
The Wichita Falls Fire Department's cooking lesson at Natural Grocers demonstrates a commitment to sharing their knowledge and recipes with the community. The Fire Department is putting together a recipe book which should be ready in early December to share their recipes with the public and other departments. This outreach not only promotes healthy eating but also strengthens the bond between the fire department and the community it serves.