At Fire Station 2, members of Austin, TX Local 975 have embarked on a culinary journey to turn the five men who make up Engine Company 2 into the fittest, healthiest and best fire fighters possible.
The wake-up call sounded at Station 2 two years ago when James “J.R.” Rae discovered that his cholesterol level had reached an alarming 344. The fact that only one male member of the Rae family has lived past the age of 59 was enough for Rae and his fellow fire fighters to spearhead a vegetarian family-style dinner “wagon” – what Engine 2 calls meals at the station.
Fire specialist James Rae, Lieutenant Scotty Walters, fire fighter Rip Esselstyn, fire fighter Derek Zwerneman and fire fighter Matt Moore report to duty every third day for a 24-hour shift that begins at noon. During the course of one month, they work 10 24-hour shifts – that’s 10 dinners divided by five guys, with each responsible for cooking twice per month.
Over the last two years, the five Texas fire fighters have developed a whole grain, plant-based wagon based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. “We started out as ‘flexitarians’ who occasionally ate chicken and fish, but now avoid all animal products,” says Rae. “Although a healthy lifestyle doesn’t require you to be a vegetarian, it’s the path we’ve chosen.”
Each of the members of Engine 2 takes great pride in preparing tasty, creative and nutritious meals. After an article, “Tofu Out Muscles Beef at Fire Station 2,” ran in the Austin American-Statesman in October 2005 there ensued a palpable buzz. “People were truly interested in a bunch of fire fighters eating vegetarian. The article featured the five Local 975 fire fighters preparing their “Paul McCartney Enchiladas.”
Other members of Local 975 reported that women were pulling up next to fire trucks inquiring if they were the vegetarian fire fighters. To their chagrin, they replied, “No, that’s Engine 2.”
In addition, readers wrote letters to the editor suggesting a vegetarian fire fighter calendar or requesting recipes for the meals they prepare, including cheeseless and meatless pizzas, casseroles, stir fry, pastas and sauces and salad dressings.
For more on Fire Station 2’s healthy eating regimen, click here.
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