Texas Prisons Cut Lunch to Save Money
EmailTexas prisons are scaling back meals on weekends to cut costs – a move that could leave inmate blood sugar levels low and tempers high.
Thirty-six prisons are cutting lunches on Saturdays and Sundays, forcing some 23,000 inmates to cram three-meals-worth of calories into an early breakfast and dinner, the New York Times reported. The cutbacks are part of a broader effort to save $2.8 million in food-related expenses, but some nutritionists are crying foul.
“With fewer meals, it’s difficult to get enough nutrients,” said Keith Ayoob, director of the Rose R. Kennedy Center Nutrition Clinic at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. “It’s likely to negatively affect mood in people who are used to having regular meals.”
The prisons usually serve “brunch” between 5 and 7 a.m. and then dinner from 4 to 6:30 p.m. In between, inmates will be able to buy chips and other snacks from prison commissaries, the Times reported.
“Going from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. without an authorized meal is too long,” said Ayoob, adding that inmates should be bridging the nutrition gap with healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts – not chips.
Hunger can lead to fatigue, headaches and general crankiness – symptoms that could be problematic in the close quarters of state prisons.
But prison officials said the plan won’t impact inmates’ physical or mental well-being.
“Extensive consultation with T.D.C.J.’s [Texas Department of Criminal Justice's] health services department and system dieticians prior to implementation of this plan have allowed us to avoid any medical issues,” Michelle Lyons, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, told the Times in a statement.
It’s unclear whether inmates will get bigger, more energy-dense meals at breakfast and dinner to compensate for the cuts.
“If they can, I’d recommend they eat a large breakfast and make every calorie count nutritionally,” said Ayoob.
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It sounds like abuse to me. I don’t think this will stand if they take it to court.
Posted by: notsayin | October 21, 2011 October 21, 2011, 7:30 pm
GOD BLESS TEXAS!! Too bad they didn’t cut breakfast and dinner too and go back to the Bread and Water diet that criminals deserve!
Posted by: Ricardo | October 21, 2011 October 21, 2011, 8:42 pm
“Extensive consultations” with their own department. That’s rich. Expect Florida and Arizona to follow suit soon.
Posted by: Steve C | October 21, 2011 October 21, 2011, 11:59 pm
As long as it’s not you on the business end, right Ricardo?
Posted by: Steve C | October 22, 2011 October 22, 2011, 12:01 am
“But prison officials said the plan won’t impact inmates’ physical or mental well-being.”
Clearly – One of the stupidest F’ing things I’ve ever seen – EVER. I mean….E V E R
Posted by: Prince Harming | October 22, 2011 October 22, 2011, 5:55 am
I can see cutting back on education, watching TV and access to computers. Providing free education to inmates is more costly than providing meals to inmates – so why don’t they cut education.
The prisoners need their 3 meals a day. It is abuse. Maybe we should put the people, who are involved in the decision making process of cutting out lunches, in prison so they can effectively see what effects will come out of this. Even better idea – lets put Rick Perry in prison. That way he can experience what these inmates go through.
Posted by: Ami | October 22, 2011 October 22, 2011, 6:28 am
Let me first say that I am a PRISON NURSE. There are many days that I miss a meal because I am taking care of these prisoners… Many days I have a headache and yeah end up eating potato chips instead of fresh veggies/fruits and the like. The only thing I don’t like about it, is that it might make a more hostile place for security and nursing staff. I don’t feel bad for the inmates at all. At the prison that I work at, you should see some of the “abuse” that the inmates carry out on themselves such as trying to cut off their own private parts, cutting their wrists, arms just for the heck of it etc. If you want these guys to live comfy in prison and eat better than probably 3/4 of the rest of the country, then I say you should start to a collection for that. I am tired of paying for it personally.
Posted by: Nurse Ratchet | October 23, 2011 October 23, 2011, 7:51 pm
Prisoners can’t really be trusted with fruit. Fresh or otherwise they will try to ferment it for Pruno. However, the other nutritious snacks that were recommended are expensive.
Posted by: Mel | October 23, 2011 October 23, 2011, 8:06 pm
Gee, that’s toooo bad. If things keep getting tougher in prison, people might not want to go there. And I’m sure STEVE C would agree…
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | October 23, 2011 October 23, 2011, 9:21 pm
If you dont like prison dont go there!
Posted by: Deputy74 | October 24, 2011 October 24, 2011, 2:45 am
Cut all their meals make their family feed them and clothe them.
Posted by: snewsom2997 | October 24, 2011 October 24, 2011, 10:41 am
Are people actually on here defending inmates having the right to 3 square meals? I think inmates should be served only nutraloaf for school lunch left-overs personally.
Posted by: MD COMMISH | October 24, 2011 October 24, 2011, 10:42 am
I was considering trying to get thrown in jail so I wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while and could get a free education to boot. But if they aren’t going to feed me well, I guess I’ll just get by on the outside…
Posted by: Arf40 | October 24, 2011 October 24, 2011, 2:37 pm
Congratulations Texas!!! If the prisoners don’t like it, send them to Sheriff Joe in Arizona. I hope the prisons in my country would follow your example. The inmates here still have cell phones, t.v., access to internet, the works, and then we wonder why the crime doesn’t diminish. Like Sheriff Joe says: If you don’t like it, don’t come back. Prisons are not 5 stars hotels.
Posted by: Excellent | October 29, 2011 October 29, 2011, 11:24 pm
So much for 3 hot and a cot.
Posted by: Kainen | November 18, 2011 November 18, 2011, 8:39 am
Are you people crazy. These are humans we are talking about. Right or wrong people need food and to with hold it is wrong. As it is they feed them so little most of them are half starved.
To the person who said let their families pay for their food. How is it the family should also be punished? Most don’t have the money. Their loves ones are taken from them through no fault of there own but they have to pay just because they are kin to them?
To those who think it is fair to not feed people because the person is in prison and that should be a part of the punishment. First being removed from everyone and everything that means anything to them. Being stripped of every right and choice is more then enough punishment. Being made to go hungry is cruel.
And second not everyone in prison is there because they commited a crime. There are quite a few people in prison who were put there because we have a legal system that makes a heck of a lot of money off the courts. Anyone can be accused of a crime and end up in the courts. And if you don’t have the money for a good lawyer, prison is where you will end up.
So what about those people, the truly non guilty ones? Are what about those who just made a mistake and are truly sorry? Have none of you never made a mistake? Should you do without food?
You people who think this is okay need to spend a few days hungry. You who think you are so righteous and ready to punish, remember it could be you are your love one there.
Posted by: cathy | January 2, 2012 January 2, 2012, 12:10 pm