New York Times article: Firefighters Gone Vegan?

March 26, 2006

Firefighters Gone Vegan? Even Austin Is Impressed

By DEBORAH BLUMENTHAL

AUSTIN, Tex. — The image of big brawny firefighters devouring platters

of four-alarm chili, sizzling steaks and double cheeseburgers is as

much a part of firehouse lore as brass fire poles and heroic

Dalmatians....

But not here.

In this health-conscious state capital, sometimes called the People's

Republic of Austin, maverick behavior is nothing out of the ordinary.

But when Jimmy John's, the local sandwich joint, names a sandwich

after you, " the Engine 2 Veggie Sandwich " ; when People for the Ethical

Treatment of Animals gives you an award for " Animal-Friendly Firehouse

of the Year " ; and when people call out to passing fire trucks, " Are

y'all the vegans? " even Austin is taking notice.

The five firefighters of Team C at Firehouse 2 — Rip Esselstyn, James

Rae, Matt Moore, Derick Zwerneman and Scott Walters — now eat vegan,

taking turns whipping up plant-based fare like meatless and cheeseless

pizza, pasta primavera and spinach enchiladas.

It did not happen because they shared a love of sprouts.

A routine cholesterol test left Specialist Rae, 37, shaken. The

American Heart Association ranks anyone with a level of 240 or more

high risk; Specialist Rae's hit 344.

" I was floored, scared, " he said. " I had no clue. "

All but one of his male relatives had succumbed to heart disease by

age 59. Specialist Rae's father, the sole survivor, had a heart attack

and then triple bypass surgery in his mid-50's.

The team's nutrition guru came to his aid. Firefighter Esselstyn, 43,

a professional triathlete for a decade before joining the department

in 1997, was living proof that meat was not necessary for hard work

and endurance. He became a vegetarian in 1986 and a vegan in 2002. He

persuaded the group to rally around Specialist Rae and start cooking

vegan dishes.

full article at:

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