Keeping the tradition alive.
Let’s look at how cooking and eating together strengthens firefighter bonds, boosts team performance, and creates a critical support system in high-stress professions.
Why Eating Together Matters
Firefighting isn’t just about the duties we perform—it’s about building trust with the people we share these duties with! Imagine a workplace where every meal is more than just food: it’s a ritual of connection, bonding, and shared purpose. In firehouses across the world, the firehouse kitchen table isn’t just a tradition—it’s a place to laugh, learn and where we do a lot of our “counseling” and problem-solving.
The Psychological Power of Shared Meals
The Benefits
- Breaking bread as a form of team building, this is a great time to put the phones down, enjoy the meal and the company around you
- Reducing stress through social connection, it’s no secret that people with strong social connections are often in a better place when it comes to their emotional stability and sense of life satisfaction
- Creating a family-like atmosphere in high-pressure environments, we have all run those tough calls together – having an outlet is important
- Importance of dialogue and communication during meal times, use this time to get to know each other, learn about each other’s lives and families
- This is a great time to bust balls and laugh together, just don’t let it get out of hand, this comes back to knowing the people around you
Nutritional Strategies for Peak Performance
High-Quality Fuel Matters
- Fueling your body with trash over the long term yields exactly what you would expect, cooking at the firehouse gives you more control over your health
- Balancing nutritional needs with shift work challenges, we all know that some days are just non-stop. With a little bit of extra planning we can make sure to get the appropriate fuel for these tough days
- Collaborative meal preparation is a great time for everyone from the rookie to the senior man to have their input
- Be open to the various likes/dislikes of the crew, over time you’ll learn what things your crew does and doesn’t like to eat. I know that one guy on my crew doesn’t eat eggs, another will puke if they eat any kind of bell peppers, and my captain despises cilantro!
Practical Approaches to Firehouse Meal Planning
How To Make It Work
- Set up a condiment fund for the basics that everyone uses(Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo). Everyone pays in and we get these items cheaper by buying in bulk
- Cooking at the station is a great way to keep costs low, if everyone cooks their own food it is so much more expensive! The same goes for eating out for 2-3 meals/shift. Our average cost for two meals/shift is $13. Name 2 full meals that you can get out at restaurants for $13 total….I’ll wait.
- Having control over what goes into our food is a great long-term play for our future health. I’ve recently use a meal tracking app for the first time and I was blown away with my Sodium intake, over the long term this is not great! Being able to control this in the firehouse kitchen puts my mind at ease that I’m looking out for my future health.
- Keep the time available in mind, some days you know are going to be full of training and tasks and may require to just throw something in a crock pot first thing in the morning and let it ride until meal time. Some days you’ll have more time to throw done and maybe enjoy smoking some delicious ribs throughout the day. Just plan accordingly.
Keep The Tradition Alive
Firehouse meals are far more than just eating—they’re a lifeline of connection, support, and resilience. By prioritizing these shared moments, firefighting teams transform from colleagues to family, ensuring they’re mentally and physically prepared for whatever challenges emerge.
-Justin
