Dec. 12, 2011

The Importance Of Food In Prison

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by Patrick Roehr (author's profile)
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12-1-11

Something has always fascinated me about prison life: the importance of food. It fuels our economy. Makes us feel better, to some extent. it's our main social lubricant as well. We look forward to a holiday meal to break away from the mundane daily menu. Good food begets good attitudes, bad food breeds strife.

For a while, it was fashionable to serve distressed out-of-date food. Bad times for everyone. Then the fundraisers started for what we call "street food"—KFC, Subway, and even Dominoes. It's a no brainer to have food thrown at a problem. "Street food" is way overpriced, but no matter how much people wince, cry, or whine about the rates, they always buy it. Myself included. Even though these restaurants give us the "It's going to inmates" servings, it's worth double the price to taste what free people taste.

This week, the canteen started to sell the holiday items. Standards like cream cheese or Pop Tarts are our Black Fridays. We go crazy for Zuzus and Wamwams. Yes, we're easily impressed by silly shit like chili and Rice Krispies treats. But it's the truth what they say about a man's heart—it's found the stomach. Something to that effect.

I'm constantly amazed by what we can do with the items available at our store. Many recipes pop up for cheesecakes or taffy. Recently, we came up with an enchilada that's passable as real. No microwaves or stoves. Just 190 degree water and whatever cups, pitchers, or bowls you've got.

Not sure where this is going, so I'm going to enjoy my chocolate strawberry parfait and sign off. Till next time...

fin

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skroehr Posted 12 years, 9 months ago. ✓ Mailed 12 years, 9 months ago   Favorite
Food kind of rules over people out here too. Usually, how much of it to eat. Some eat way to little. Some eat way too much. I can imagine the importance it takes on in prison. It is that rare thing. Something required for life itself, but which in and of itself can actually offer a little enjoyment and taste to life. The breathing we take for granted. The eating we like to savor, and change up. Experiment with. The less we have available, the better the little things are. My only personal experience was long weeks on field maneuvers in the Army, or being underway on my ship in the Coast Guard. In the Army we traded parts of our boxes of C-Rations with one another. I traded all my pound cake for peanut butter and crackers all the time. On the ship it was a mystical yearning for fresh food. We'd run out of fresh milk, vegetables, fruit, etc. just a few days out at sea, and go to all the powdered and canned stuff. Bland meats frozen since the Eisenhower administration. When we'd get to port, we were usually off to a restaurant before we even went to a bar.

Love,

Dad

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