Kales Lab
Research at the Kales Lab focuses on the health of firefighters and other public safety professionals, including investigating the causal relationship of heart disease to job activities and exoploring how to mitigate the risk of cardiac events.
665 Huntington Ave
Building 1, 14th floor
Boston, MA, 02115
Getting Started on the Mediterranean Diet
The following resources were developed to help you and your fellow firefighters learn about and adopt the key principals of a “Mediterranean Diet.”
Here are five tips to get you started:
- Replace butter and stick margarine with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and eat at least 4 tablespoons/day.
- Drink Water instead of sodas, energy drinks and other sugary beverages. (A glass of red wine with off-duty dinners is fine.)
- Choose Chicken, Turkey, Fish, Eggs & Beans. Limit red and processed meats.
- Eat more Fruits and Vegetables. Eat Fresh Berries instead of sweet desserts.
- Choose Whole Grains. Avoid refined carbohydrates.
For more details, download the PDF Guide below.
Videos
In these newly created videos, Heather Fink, Registered Dietician, shares the principles of the Mediterranean Lifestyle and resources available to you!
Toolkit
Toolkit for Getting Started and Handouts for Your Fire Service Meetings:
Recipes
Recipes Created Specifically for Firefighters, Including “Firefighter Favorites”
Download these recipes, selected by our Nutrition Team, for your enjoyment and the promotion of healthy eating. Each recipe combines flavorful and fresh ingredients. Our “Firefighter Favorites” recipes, were created by our team and chefs, based on focus groups, with Indianapolis firefighters and their spouses. Please note for all recipes, we recommend adding salt sparingly and using lemon, herbs, and garlic to enhance flavors.
Menus
Catering Menus for a Fire Service Event
How often have you attended a fire service meeting (even ones related to promoting health and wellness) and the food served is anything but healthy? Here are some simple plans for catering delicious and healthy meals consistent with the Mediterranean lifestyle. These are meals you can thoroughly enjoy, feel full and still feel great about the next day.