1-Week Prison Food Diet Reveals Problems With Inmate Meals - Low Cost, Bad Taste, and Very Little Nutrition

31/8/2015
1WeekPrisonFoodDietRevealsProblemsWithInmateMeals:LowCost,BadTaste,AndVeryLittleNutrition
The Hill
1-Week Prison Food Diet Reveals Problems With

Inmate Meals: Low Cost, Bad Taste, And Very Little
Nutrition
Aug 27, 2015 08:00 AM
By Samantha Olson
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Brent Koster has spent most of his life in Michigan State prisons. Being practically
raised on prison food, he has seen the rise and fall of its quality as its moved from
file:///F:/Downloads/DOC%20Diet.html
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public to private food services. Hes one of the roughly 30 kitchen workers, and
from behind that food line he watches juvenile delinquents, no younger than he
was when he entered the system, stand in uniform cafeteria lines waiting to be
served.
I hate to admit it, but I have a number of years in, 43 years actually, Koster, who
was convicted of murder in 1973, told Medical Daily. I went through a number of
food transitions and it used to be pretty good. But when the state went through the
budget cuts, it got progressivelyworseand worseand worse.
The meatballs hurt his stomach, the chicken patties are indistinguishable from the
fish dishes, and the inmates have come to affectionately call the bologna cow
tongue.
Prison systems have a lengthy history of poor food quality, raising questions of
ethical standards, especially when it comes to the oft-used re-rack system.
Under the re-rack system, 95 percent of uneaten food is not thrown out, but rather
frozen and re-served up to sevendays after it was first distributed to the inmates.
Meals lack basic dietary necessities, and fruits and vegetables are absent from
inmate trays unless otherwise asked for due to budget cuts.
In December 2013, private food corporation Aramark won a bid to take over food
services in Michigan State prisons, replacing hundreds of state workers with
private employees. The menu is still administered and regulated by the
Department of Corrections, but the responsibility to fulfill the daily meal
guidelines and policies shifted from the state up to Aramark.
The privatization of prison food services began in 1939, when an Alabama state law
handed over the reins to county sheriffs with a food budget of $1.75 a day per
prisoner. Budgets largely dictated the food quality served to prisoners, and more
than 70 years later the power of financial consideration still holds true. Today, the
daily cost to feed a prisoner is between $2 and $3 a day.
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There are more than 1.5 million incarcerated in state and federal prisons, according
to the Department of Justice, and every single one must be fed according to
guidelines. The federallyrun Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state
departments of health have designed foodregulations that are both extensive and
explicitly detailed in order to ensure safety and quality for the general public.
However, that carefully calibrated system of food distribution and meal balance
does not apply to prisons.
There is an ongoing fight for better quality prison food, with proposed theories on
how to sustain a healthful diet while behind bars.The national debate involving
correctional institutions comes during a time of tight governmental budget cuts
and divided sympathy for the incarcerated.
After speaking with Koster about his experience, I decided to try the food for
myself.I used theFederal Bureau of Prisons'Certified Menu from 2012because it is
recent and reflective of many meals Koster described to me in our interview.
Although Koster would probably argue otherwise, food servicein prisons aims to
prepare and serve three daily nutritional, appetizing meals, according to the
Federal Bureau of Prisons. There are three menu options provided for each inmate:
regular, heart healthy, and non-flesh diet (vegetarian). Every meal is certified by
Religious Services as kosher regardless of individual religious affiliation.
The heart healthy option is supposed to be low in sodium, fat, cholesterol, and
sugar. Wheat bread replaces white bread and fruit is given instead of dessert.
However, this meal option is provided for the needs of inmates with special
dietary needs, such as diabetics or those at risk for cardiovascular disease,
according to the 2007 Prisoner Law Sectionof Americans for Effective Law
Enforcement (AELE) Law Journal.
But does it really matter if the prison serves the right portion of fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, and unprocessed proteins each day? Is it inhumane to feed rapists
white bread while theyre being punished for unspeakable crimes? By experiencing
the day-to-day menu myself, I got a glimpse ofwhat its like to eat without
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options.
My Week of Eating Like A Prisoner:
Prisoner meals for Monday through Sunday from the 2012 Federal Bureau of Prisons
Certified Food Menu, week 1. Photo courtesy of Federal Bureau of Prisons
Monday
Breakfast
1. Orange
2. Package of oatmeal
3. (3) slice of white bread
4. (2) cups of skim milk
5. (2) package of jelly
6. (2) margarine
A departure from my typical Greek yogurt, banana, rice cake, or hard-boiled eggs,
it was already clear to me this food was going to be a far cry from my normal diet. I
ate the oatmeal and orange, then downed three slices of bread plain and chugged
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my milk.
Lunch
1. Beans and franks
2. Potatoes
3. (2) mustard
4. (3) slices of white bread
5. (2) margarine
6. Apple
7. Kosher beverage
The mystery meatthat is the hotdog had stripped me of my appetite for it three
years ago. However, because prisoners are devoid of choice, I would be too. It was
either eat it or go hungry. I had two pieces of hotdog, a few slices of potato, and
most of the $0.99 can of beans. And even though I didnt want any more bread, I
found refuge in the plainness, which cleaned my tongue of the hotdog taste. I
knew it wasnt going to be enough food and that I really should eat the hotdog to
stave away hunger, but I didnt have it in me;Id rather be hungry.
Dinner
1. Fish fillet
2. Tomato Sauce
3. White rice
4. Lima beans
5. (2) tartar sauce
6. (3) slices of bread
7. (2) margarine
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8. Apple
9. Kosher beverage
I had eaten six pieces of bread today already, and nine would have been nearly a
loaf. I turned to my apple for solace and found an old familiar taste. As for the
kosher beverages I was supposed to be drinking, I settled for water. Inmates do
have that choice and I decided to take it, too. I turned to a registered dietician for
expert advice after my first day, who reviewed the Federal Bureau of Prisons' menu
I based my meals on for the week.
Dinner is nicely varied with the protein source, Amy Shapiro, the founder of
Real Nutrition NYC, told Medical Daily. However, most of the carbs supplied are
white from the bread to the rice to the pasta, which is void of fiber and many
nutrients.
Tuesday
Breakfast
1. Apple
2. Package of grits
6. (2) margarine
Dj vu. This morning felt very much like a replay of yesterday morning.Oatmeal
and grits are packed with fiber and because its a warm meal theres something
comforting in its taste and texture. I ate my apple and skipped the bread
again.Why eat all of this bread? It was just filling me up to let me down a couple
hours later when Id feel hungry again. It also comes with its share of health risks.
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According to the Harvard School of Public Health, a diet including a lot of white bread
and other high-glycemic foods like sweets, candy, desserts, and white potatoes
increases your risk for weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Lunch
1. Package of sardines
2. Package of potato chips
3. Vegetable juice
5. (2) salad dressing
6. (2) mustard
7. Orange
8. Kosher beverage
Ive never eaten sardines before, but I know I should because theyre packed with
healthy omega-3 DHAs, which is a fancy way of saying brain food. Today I
needed the bread to sandwich the sardines. The fishy smell was difficult to
overcome, but I took two bites. Our marketing manager rallied and took a bite of
his own for the sake of comradery, only to find out I was telling the truth. It really
was difficult to stomach. The potato chips provided a familiarity in the flavorful
crunch that any person in or out of prison may be able to relate to. The vegetable
juice seemed like a quick and easy way to get veggies into an inmate, but it isnt
without its drawbacks.
Vegetable juice is void of fiber, Shapiro said. I like that the inmates receive
three fruits daily and veggies at two meals, but I would like to see more fish that is
not fried, whole grains, colorful veggies, and heart healthy fats.
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Dinner
1. Turkey cutlet
2. Gravy
3. Mashed potatoes
4. Mixed vegetables
6. Orange
7. Kosher beverage
I couldnt find a turkey cutlet in the supermarket, so I defaulted to a turkey burger
instead, and ate it alongside a defrosted package of frozen veggies (how prisoners
normally eat vegetables), mashed potatoes, and gravy. Once again, I passed on the
bread.
Wednesday
Breakfast
1. Orange
2. Package of bran cereal
6. (2) margarine
This morning, instead of chugging the milk like I normally did, I used it for my
cereal. I was basically fed up with bread, so that left me with no use for the jelly or
margarine. Bran cereal tastes like how it sounds bland. But I decided bland was
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better than bad.

Shapiro shed some light on prisoners morning meals: The menu is pretty carb
heavy, especially at breakfast, with the only protein really coming from the milk.
Breakfast errs on the high sugar side with sugar coming from the fruit, bread,
milk,and jelly. Margarine is also not a healthy sub for butter.
Lunch
1. Beef meatloaf
2. Brown gravy
3. Mashed potatoes
4. Mixed vegetables
6. Banana
7. Kosher beverage
My mom makes delicious turkey meatloaf and thats exactly why I knew I couldnt
ask her to make me a beef version. Prisoners may fantasize about grandmas
meatballs or the like, but part of the punishment is being deprived of the comforts
of home. According to Koster, nearly everything served in prison is prepackaged
and frozen, which is why I chose a microwaveable meatloaf dinner instead, which I
ate with mashed potatoes, brown gravy, and mixed veggies. I routinely rejected the
bread. And the banana was a nice change from the orange-apple alternation.
Dinner
1. Chicken cacciatore
2. Tomato sauce
3. Mushrooms
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4. Macaroni pasta
5. Carrots
7. (2) margarine
8. Apple
9. Kosher beverage
The chicken mixed with the mushrooms and sauteed carrots tasted nice, but
because chicken cacciatore is typically cooked with chicken thighs, its not
considered a heart-healthy lean meat, according to the American Heart Association.
Later that night, I realized the food was starting to affect me on a mental level
when my boyfriends normally light tone was laced with concern, Youve been
really out of it lately. Are you OK?
I had also been foggy at work for the last couple of days, having a difficult time
stringing simple sentences together in my writing. I thought it was all in my head,
but I was slowlylearning the power food had on my mind and, as I would soon
learn, my body.
Thursday
Breakfast
1. Banana
2. Package of oatmeal
6. (2) margarine
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As soon as I woke up I knew something wasnt right. I was reluctant to get out of
bed and go for my morning run. Everything was slow, like moving through
molasses. I looked at my menu. Banana and oatmeal? I left out the bread, jelly, and
margarine, stomached half of the oatmeal, drank down my milk, and made my way
out the door one day closer to freedom.
But I didnt make it far before I sat hunched over in the hallway both dizzy and
nauseous. Was I getting sick? I put my hand to my forehead and felt a cold but fine
layer of sweat coated my skin. I decided to get up and walk. I made it half an hour
before I felt strong enough to make it into a slow jog. The run wasnt just difficult
to make it through. It hurt. I had a hard time reconciling with the fact the food was
having such a visceral effect on me. Was this food really as bad as my body
perceived it to be?
Lunch
1. Package of bologna
2. Package of potato chips
3. Vegetable juice
5. (2) salad dressing
6. (2) mustard
7. Orange
8. Kosher beverage
I had never eaten bologna before, which I had learned is a seasoned smoked
sausage made of various meats, especially beef and pork.
Bologna and franks are not ideal, Shapiro said. They are loaded with nitrates,
which have been shown to be carcinogenic.
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According to the American Cancer Society, frequent consumption of processed meats

is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. I took two bites and
immediately began having hot dog flashbacks, but managed to clear a third bite.
The bologna I ate was different from Kosters cow tongue version, which he said
is so bad he doesnt even eat it.
Dinner
1. Vegetable chili
2. White rice
3. Mixed vegetables
5. (2) margarine
6. Orange
7. Kosher beverage
I was hungry after a barely eaten lunch, but my stomach was uncomfortably
bloated. I grabbed a fork and ate a few bites of the microwaveable chili, rice, and all
of the vegetables. It was mushy, but overall tasty. As I savored the vegetables I
remembered Koster said they serve fruits and vegetables only upon request to save
money, shaving off pennies per prisoner each meal.
Friday
Breakfast
1. Orange
2. Package of grits
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6. (2) margarine
Exhaustion. I barely had an appetite, despite having only eaten vegetables and a
few bites of rice and chili last night. I had a spoonful of grits with a splash of milk
and ate the orange. Before this week, I had always loved eating a big breakfast and
rarely turned down a meal in general. This week, nothing was quite right.
Lunch
1. Chicken wings
2. Sauce
3. Mashed potatoes
4. Sweet peas
6. (2) margarine
7. Apple
8. Kosher beverage
I had one chicken wing and although the hot sauce was a welcomed palate shift,
the mashed potatoes went untouched because of my missing appetite. I ate the
steamed sweet peas, my apple, and was soon overcome with a strange sleepiness.
Dinner
1. Salisbury steak
2. Brown gravy
3. Mashed potatoes
4. Lima beans
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6. (2) margarine
7. Apple
8. Kosher beverage
Google Search: What is a Salisbury steak? I learned it was some sort of
hamburger blend densely cooked into the shape of a steak. Instead of cooking it
myself, I relied on another microwaveable meal, with a side of my own mashed
potatoes, gravy, and beans. Another foolhardy attempt at eating like an inmate
helped me swallow the beans, some mashed potatoes, and two bites of the meat. I
calmly placed my fork down. I was done. I wonder how long it will take me to
recover from this, I thought.
Food for Afterthought

After analyzing the menu from Monday to Sunday, Shapiro said the diet is missing
leafy greens, fiber, whole grains, heart-healthy fats, and other vital nutrients. The
inmates could do without the potatoes, potato chips, mashed potatoes, and
fiberless vegetable juice.
I am acutely aware of the lamented tone throughout my food journal. Mimicking
the diet of incarcerated inmates had taken its toll on both my body and mind. The
entire week I gave my food dirty looks, stare downs, and fork pokes. I felt like a
snob. The food drastically affected my ability to concentrate, exercise, sleep, and
eat. And there was something deeply degrading about my inability to choose. Even
the thought of limitation unnerved me. But from what I could ascertain from
Koster, this was the way life functioned during incarceration and had been since
the prison system was initially introduced nearly 200 years ago.
I have a problem digesting a lot of this food, Koster said. I mean, really. It turns
my stool a funny color. Theres no seasoning at all thats put into anything.Most
of the stuff is ready-made mixesor re-racked and re-purposed food. I understand
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theyre trying to save money, but they go to the extreme with it. Everythings a
numbers game. They could care about anything less than the numbers.
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Seleccionararchivo Ningnarchivoseleccionado
KennethI.Ginsberg
Iamnotcertainwhatthepointofthearticleis.Therearemillionsofpeoplewhohavecommittedno
crimesyetdonteataswellasthemenuyouavailedyourselfof.AndIfeelreallybadthatsome
inmateswhomayhavecommittedheinouscrimesagainstothersmaybehavingtheirstoolsturna
hazyshadeofgrey.
LikeReply 25Aug27,20159:11am
15/18
31/8/2015
CherylClanton
GwinnettCollegeofBusiness
Ihaven'teatenthatgoodinmonths!
JhonStert
Areyouadoctor?pharmacist?gynecologist?Cardiologist?Surgeon?Dermatologist?Nurse?
Ophthalmologist?Pediatrician?Midwife?amedicalstudent?
Wellthisfunnyappisdevelopedforyou.
Findinatwinkling,thefunniestjokestorelievestressandforgettheallthepainoftheday.Medical
Humorsisthebestwaytolaugh
IfsomejokesyoulikemorethanotherstheFavoritessectionallowsyoutoaccessitwhenyouwant
andeasily.
Afterdownloadingtheapplication,thejokeswillbeinstalledonyourSmartphoneyoudonotneed
tohaveaccesstotheinternettobrowse.
Sharethemwithyourfriendsviaemail,FacebookorTwitter.
Enjoyyourselfandhavefunyourfriends!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details...
LikeReplyAug29,20155:52am
DesireTurner
ManagingConsultantatZurvitaZealForLifeIndependentConsultant
Wow.PrisonerseatbetterinaweekthanIcanaffordtoeatinamonth.Iftheywantbetterfood,
maybetheyshouldn'tbreakthelawsotheycanchoosetheirownmeals.
LikeReply 8Aug27,20154:52pm
StephanieMcFarland
Actress/ProduceratPlotdiggerfilms
Grantedthemealsahighincarbsbutitisfarmorecompletedietthanmosthardworkinghonestbill
payinglawabidingcitizenscanafford,tofreakingbadforprisoners.Theymadechoicesthatput
themwheretheyareandtheresultisthreemealsadayfreehealthcaretoiletriesmedsblankets
sheetsshelter.Somanywhotryjusttopaybillsgowithoutshampoo,food,veggies,warmblankets.
Youfailedtogarnermysympathies.
WandaVierra
Whenyourhungryfornutritionitcausesbodyorganstonotworkproperly,evenworse"shutdown"
&yourmindisfoggy/confused,socan'tconcentrate!Thewholeprisonindustryisabigfatlie!We
arespendingthemoneytofeed&house,butthefoodisn'treachingtheinmates.Allthegoodfresh
foodisusedforpartiesfortheGuardsortakenhomebyPrisonStaff.Ibetmanypeopledon'trealize
notonlydowepayfortheGuards&PrisonStafftoruntheseprisons,butwearepayingtofeed
them&theirfamiliesathomeaswell!Ihaveaproblemwiththat!Theyneedtokeeptheirhandsoff
16/18
31/8/2015
them&theirfamiliesathomeaswell!Ihaveaproblemwiththat!Theyneedtokeeptheirhandsoff
t...SeeMore
StevenWenk
WorksatOcalaPawn&gun
Iknowmanypeoplethatworkinprisons,maleandfemale,inmorethanonestate.
Noneofwhatyousaidisevenremotelyaccurate.
JoshuaBrown
SpecialClassWelderatThiess
HeyWanda,theyareprisonersforareasonandmostofthemdontevendeserveameal.
DanBrehm
Brimley,Michigan
HeyWanda,stoplisteningtoyourconvictbabydaddy.
GloriaMarieDeVault
RowanUniversity
Iftheyaremissinggreenleafyvegatblesandfiber,maybeytheyshouldgetaJOB...........betteryet,
gowalkintoanursinghome,wheretheguysthatfoughtforourfreedomdon'ygetfedatall...........
JaneanSylvester
UniversityofWestFlorida
HowaboutwetakecareofEVERYONEinsteadofpickinganchoosingwhodeservestobecared
for?
LikeReply2hrs
CandyBaldwin
Maybeiftheyweren'tinprisontheycouldbeworkingandcontributingtosocietyandcouldbuy
theirownfoodhmmmmthere'sathoughtyoufuckengetretard!!!!Meanwhileourpensionersare
starving....justsayin
17/18
31/8/2015

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1-Week Prison Food Diet Reveals Problems With Inmate Meals - Low Cost, Bad Taste, and Very Little Nutrition

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31/8/2015

1-Week Prison Food Diet Reveals Problems With

My Week of Eating Like A Prisoner:

better than bad.

According to the American Cancer Society, frequent consumption of processed meats

5. (2) package of jelly

5. (3) slices of white bread

Food for Afterthought

I Ate Like A Prisoner

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