Why Do Prisoners Get Food In Jail

Two meals a day, less than 2500 calories, not enough to fill a toddler. Where and what is this place? Who is getting this food? Prisoners in the jails of the United States are where they are receiving these meals. One of the biggest complaints that come from Inmates is their food. Studies have shown when an inmate is released from incarceration, the first conversation they have with the outside world is the food but is it honestly all that bad? Is there no variety? The average American thinks of a prisoner's meal as a punishment, but they receive a mandatory set of meals and some food they are able to purchase themselves.
In jail, prisoners consume two meals a day, not by choice but by law. Officer Candelario of the Lower Buckeye jail shared what a typical morning meal looks like for her inmates. Breakfast consists of "One apple or orange, a carton of milk, one piece of bread, and a small serving of Peanut butter

and jelly. It's not a grand feast, but has enough calories that is needed for them to survive during their time. Statistics show the state of Arizona has the cheapest meal in the United States costing the state "40 cents a meal" each day( Iaboni & Santo). Former Sherriff Joe Arpaio made it his mission to cut down the costs of prison's meals and put the money elsewhere. In him doing so it may be the result in why the inmates have such a negative review on the food. If there is not a lot of money put it the food budget not a lot of effort is put out. The prisoner's daily meals aren't a picnic but their punishment meals are no better.
Nutraloaf, every inmates worst nightmare, mainly given to inmates as a punishment.

Food is a privilege and when misbehaving, consequently it can be taken. Earning this punishment can come from "throwing food and or getting violent"( National Public Radio 1).Officers do not use the nutraloaf card unless an inmate causes a food related problem. The meal is a combination of seven different types of left overs mushed together and reheated. It has a full day of nutrients containing "protien,fat,carbohydrates, and 1100 calories" however no matter how bad it sounds its legal and in full force at most facility's (Ruby 2). The nutraloaf meal comes in a variety from; a rice combo. Bean combo and even an "applesauce, garlic powder, and spinach" combination.(Mosbergen 5). The sole purpose of nutraloaf punishment is that there is no flavor, although they don’t get the best tasting food the flavor is what they hold on to. Without flavor they have nothing to look forward to. Although inmates never look forward to nutraloaf they do have one thing to look forward

too.
Commissary, the jail's store, where inmates can have a slice of happiness by purchasing items.. Unlike food they don’t get this privilege on a daily basis. In order to, be approved the visit to commissary it must be earned. According to Officer Candelario, inmates are taken to commissary, "every other week" they are not allowed to spend more than "150 U.S. dollars" at a time. The reason behind giving inmates the opportunity to buy things is limiting the amount of contraband snuck in, to reward inmates, and to allow them to buy what they need and desire. The commissary sells a variety of materials from; small snacks, soap, robes, sandals, headphones, books, etc. To make their stay more tolerable, inmates "buy comfort food and supplies" (Officer Candelario). When facing or serving a jail sentence, it is hard to get through it without the items you would use before incarceration, but the prison commissary helps inmates in making their stay a bit more bearable.
Prisons are being occupied more and more each year by criminals. As the occupancy gets higher the staff gets smaller, the days get longer, and the meals get shorter. The budget in prison food is not a high one. Compared to school lunches prisoners daily meals rank under their spending cost and taste far worse. Some choices of meals are better than others. When the word Prisons plays across a person's mind they think mostly about the unappetizing food, they think that two meals a day is all they are exposed to in their time being there but that is not the case. Inmates have options of being served mandatory meals, a punishment of nutraloaf, or shop at the store. Variety is a factor in jail it all depends on the person asking for it.

Works Cited
Santo, Alysia & Iaboni, Lisa. "What's in a Prison meal?" The Marshall Project, 7 Febuary 2015, https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/07/07/what-s-in-a-prison-meal#.kTEvZqUoo. Accessed 19 April 2017
"Food as Punishment: Giving U.S. Inmates 'The Loaf' Persists. National Public Radio. 2 January 2017, http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/01/02/256605441/punishing-inmates-with-the-loaf-persists-in-the-u-s. Accessed 19 April 2017
Mosberegen, Dominque. "Watch People Try Nutraloaf, The Controversial Prison Food That’s Been Called ‘Cruel’. Huffpost. 15 June 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/14/nutraloaf-prison-food-video_n_7582510.html Accessed
Candelario, Juanita. Personal Interview. 19 April 2017
Ruby, Jeff. Dining Critic Tries Nutraloaf, the Prison Food for Misbehaving Inmates
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2010/Dining-Critic-Tries-Nutraloaf-the-Prison-Food-for-Misbehaving-Inmates/