Fueling The Fire: Nutrition And Policy Changes For Wildland Firefighters With James Shelley

Nutrition plays a vital role in the well-being and performance of wildland firefighters, shaping their physical and mental resilience in the face of demanding and dangerous conditions. In this episode, we continue the previous discussions around human performance and nutrition. This time, we look into the policy changes for how our wildland firefighters are fed during fire assignments. Joining us is the perfect guest for this conversation. James Shelley is not only well-versed in the world of wildland firefighting, being a wildland firefighter himself; he is also versed in nutrition since he is currently a dietetics student at the University of Alaska. Just this year, he became the owner of Frontier Performance Nutrition, where the goal is to change the game for those living high-performance, time-demanding lifestyles. 

James shares his journey from U.S. Marine Vet to firefighting to studying dietetics, discovering his passion for nutrition while working as a dog musher in Alaska. He soon found similarities between sled dogs and wildland firefighters, especially when it comes to nutrition. James highlights the need for individualized nutrition, improved meal quality, and increased communication among firefighters. He dives deep into hydration, electrolyte sources, and the challenges of implementing nutrition initiatives. Addressing the party culture and alcohol consumption among firefighters, James emphasizes personal accountability and the importance of reliable research. Join us as we explore the path to better nutrition and policy changes for wildland firefighters, striving for a healthier and safer future.