Will you be applying to a grant? If so, which one?
A four-part framework that maximizes results and creates long lasting changes using the following formula:
The Cultural Shift Method goes beyond talking about healthy eating and leads to actually making positive behavior changes. Dana’s simplified approach to nutrition combined with budget friendly meals that can be created on a time crunch creates the cultural shift; by making nutrition easy, individualized, and attainable for firefighters.
Disclosure: Nutrition changes that are built upon long lasting culture within the fire community won’t change overnight. They take time. The Cultural Shift Method takes this into account.
More than 70 percent of firefighters are overweight or obese (National Volunteer Fire Council, 2011), which impacts the general health and physical shape of these firefighters, as well as their job performance. Yet, we know that the very people we rely on to serve and help others can’t do so without first helping themselves. Add occupational risks, such as the rise of cancer rates, heart disease, and various barriers that stand in the way of having a healthy eating environment, and we have a unique and complex group of factors to address within the fire service.
Now that we understand how we got here what do we have to do to move forward? The same old nutrition programs have been tried and failed. We need a program that focuses on the entire culture of firefighting, the unique occupational factors, and barriers firefighters face, and not just nutrition facts.
Rates of cancer among firefighters, heart-disease, and other nutrition-related health conditions.
Health costs based on injuries, worker’s compensation, and absenteeism.
Being prepared as a firefighter for unknown work tasks.
Living a happier life.
NUTRITION SERVICES FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS
WORKSHOP TOPICS EXPLORED
COOKING WORKSHOPS EXPLORED
Investing in firefighter health and wellness is the best thing you can do for your firefighters (on + off shift), their families, and communities they serve. In order to do so, we need to focus on making eating healthy attainable via nutrition education and cooking healthy meals that are budget friendly and time sensitive. Creating a successful program proves to better a department, including its moral and overall health of its members. When you focus on changing the culture using the Cultural Shift Method, health and wellness initiatives become the best investment for your department that saves money and lives in the long run.
“Think eating healthy has to be expensive or restrictive? Nutritionist Dana Harrison, MS breaks down food myths, exposes the flaws in outdated guidelines like the food pyramid, and explains how firefighters can take control of their health through real, practical changes in the kitchen. She’s learned that the key to lasting nutrition isn’t perfection, it’s getting back to the (delicious) basics on shift.”
Check out the episode here.
The nutritionist and educator behind Eats 2 Know, LLC.
