HERE IS THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A WEEKLY FEATURE WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE FIREFIGHTER THROWDOWN, WHERE WE WILL PROVIDE TIPS ON EATING HEALTHIER IN THE FIREHOUSE.
START WITH A SALAD
It may sound crazy but I have found that a saying I use when training my dog, can be applied to eating better in the firehouse. "Set yourself up for success", basically means give yourself a chance to accomplish your goal, whether that goal is to get your dog to focus on you instead of distractions or for you to avoid eating another piece of garlic bread. One "tactic" I have found to be successful is to start the meal off with a salad. More often than not we tend to eat more than what our portions really should be and this is usually in the form of empty calories from foods such as bread or french fries. The salad will start to fill you up and at the same time can give you plenty of healthy nutrients, vitamins, etc. With that being said, be smart about what goes into the salad. Stick with dark greens such as arugula, kale or mixed greens which are loaded with fiber and vitamins A,C, and K. Throw in some fresh raw vegetables, nuts, a little cheese for protein and avoid any creamy dressings. Here is a quick and simple vinaigrette that you could make ahead of time and leave in the fridge: in a mason jar combine equal parts extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a couple tablespoons of honey and salt and pepper to taste. Shake and serve!
So the next time your up for cooking duty on shift, set the crew up for success by putting the big bowl of salad on the table first.