Nutrition during extended-duration incidents should emphasize:

The emphasis on complete, balanced meals during extended-duration incidents is essential for maintaining energy levels and overall health. Firefighters engage in physically demanding activities that require sustained energy, endurance, and concentration. A complete, balanced meal provides the necessary macronutrients: carbohydrates for quick energy, proteins for muscle repair and growth, and fats for long-lasting fuel.

During challenging operations, calorie intake needs to be sufficient to replace energy expended, maintain hydration, and ensure that the body can recover effectively. Balanced meals also contain vital vitamins and minerals that support immune function and prevent fatigue or illness, which is crucial in high-stress environments.

While fluid and electrolyte replacement is critical for hydration, especially under physically taxing conditions, it does not encompass the broader nutritional needs that balanced meals provide. Carbohydrate loading and high-protein or high-fat diets may serve specific purposes but are not suitable as general recommendations for sustained performance in firefighting, where a diverse nutrient intake from balanced meals supports overall functionality and health better.