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SPIKEGARY

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GNW - Firehouse food: Hummus, leafy greens edge out salty snacks and sweets

Seeded on Wed May 5, 2010 7:38 AM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: The Buffalo News
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Seeded by Spikegary
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The bell rang in the Buffalo Fire Department's Jefferson Avenue firehouse just before dinnertime.

"Salad's ready," called firefighter Jack Regan. It was the dinner call, not a fire alarm. Instead of rushing to the trucks, firefighters strolled to the table.

What a salad it was, too, with fresh apple wedges and cran-raisins topping the usual greenery. One firefighter started slicing an avocado for his salad bowl.

Buffalo firefighters live together and eat a daily meal together, lunch on the day shifts and dinner for the nighttime crew. It has been that way for decades, but in this Buffalo firehouse as many others, more than ever, firefighters take calories, fat and overall fitness into consideration while planning their meals.

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Spikegary

When I came on, you did not make lunch without potato chips — had to have potato chips," he said. "There were always doughnuts when you came in. The more fat and sugar in the meal, the better it was."

No more, he said. "The typical firefighter is no longer sitting there eating four doughnuts in the morning, and half a bag of chips at lunch," he said. "We eat more salads now. We're more conscious about how much fat we intake."

Wow-talk about breaking down stereoypes! Glad to see these guys are taking time to care for their health. If they survive the rigors of the job, they'll live longer and be able to enjoy life after.

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Wed May 5, 2010 7:41 AM EDT
rottlady

What a great example they are setting! Good for them!

  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Wed May 5, 2010 8:19 AM EDT
Spikegary

Can you imagine at that big firehall in the sky, how these old heroes are pointing and laughing at these young kids? There's a unique camaraderie within fire houses, these folks that live, eat, work and sometimes die together have. I can imagine how some of these cooking 'mistakes' take on a life of their own.

  • 2 votes
#2.1 - Wed May 5, 2010 9:05 AM EDT
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