Feeding prisoners

Having read the prison food article (“Prisoners boycott prepackaged breakfasts,” Feb. 6, 2019), I am appalled at the lack of quality food given prisoners.

As a teacher, I observe public school food programs as refined-carbohydrate-heavy, but milk, salad, vegetables and fresh fruit are always included. Do these men and women, many with full-time jobs, deserve anything less?

I have a friend whose son is incarcerated. She sends him money to buy vitamins because he is worried that he will become diabetic as a result of his diet. He buys food at the commissary to cook in his hot-pot in his cell, avoiding all meals as often as possible. Apparently, when they had a prison garden the food was much better. My husband and I visited my friend’s son twice. As a visitor you can put money on a card for them to use in vending machines in the visitation room. This is a big deal for them, because the vending machine food is better than meals and they have pizza by the slice! You can imagine.

Aren’t the challenges of adjusting to life out of prison and staying out of prison without also being obese and having diabetes enough?

Joyce Roskelley

Mead