Routine becomes a necessity while serving a prison sentence. Our day always begins with an early wake up for a head count. It is challenging to have a healthy diet in jail as the price to be healthy is unaffordable and the ability to purchase vegetables for the majority is unattainable. For breakfast we are provided with several slices of bread and a handful of cereal. You would have to starve yourself if you are trying to lose weight.
For lunch, on weekdays we are given more slices of bread with two thin slices of meat, either chicken loaf, beef or salami - which actually isn’t salami but apparently called devon. And just a handful of leaf mix. On the odd occasion we would have boiled eggs instead of meat, and on the extremely rare occasion, a few slices of cheese are given.
On weekends we receive a hot lunch which is either soggy pies or sausage rolls, yum. For dinner we receive a hot meal which is a rotation of either diced beef, Maryland chicken or minced beef. Friday dinners there is an all time favourite, soggy fried basa fish and roast potato - which is meant to be chips but hasn’t been for years under unknown reasons.
On Sundays we are provided roast beef and roast potato for dinner. We are also able to apply for vegetarian or the healthy choice option. Healthy choice dinner meals are a rotation of chicken breast, beans or tuna with salad. There is meant to be a four week rotation in the menu but most of the meals are the same and often repetitive.
We can also purchase two frozen meat packs a week and can cook it ourselves. The options to pick from are: chicken breast, economy porterhouse steak (which has the same thickness as a pen), pork ribs, salmon, lamb chops, pork chops or kosher chicken breast. We also purchase from the canteen once a week, but the canteen doesn’t have a fridge so they can’t get any other healthy options or anything cold. We can purchase eggs and cereal but mainly confectionary. We cannot purchase vegetables.
Routine becomes a necessity while serving a prison sentence. Our day always begins with an early wake up for a head count. It is challenging to have a healthy diet in jail as the price to be healthy is unaffordable and the ability to purchase vegetables for the majority is unattainable. For breakfast we are provided with several slices of bread and a handful of cereal. You would have to starve yourself if you are trying to lose weight.
For lunch, on weekdays we are given more slices of bread with two thin slices of meat, either chicken loaf, beef or salami - which actually isn’t salami but apparently called devon. And just a handful of leaf mix. On the odd occasion we would have boiled eggs instead of meat, and on the extremely rare occasion, a few slices of cheese are given.
On weekends we receive a hot lunch which is either soggy pies or sausage rolls, yum. For dinner we receive a hot meal which is a rotation of either diced beef, Maryland chicken or minced beef. Friday dinners there is an all time favourite, soggy fried basa fish and roast potato - which is meant to be chips but hasn’t been for years under unknown reasons.
On Sundays we are provided roast beef and roast potato for dinner. We are also able to apply for vegetarian or the healthy choice option. Healthy choice dinner meals are a rotation of chicken breast, beans or tuna with salad. There is meant to be a four week rotation in the menu but most of the meals are the same and often repetitive.
We can also purchase two frozen meat packs a week and can cook it ourselves. The options to pick from are: chicken breast, economy porterhouse steak (which has the same thickness as a pen), pork ribs, salmon, lamb chops, pork chops or kosher chicken breast. We also purchase from the canteen once a week, but the canteen doesn’t have a fridge so they can’t get any other healthy options or anything cold. We can purchase eggs and cereal but mainly confectionary. We cannot purchase vegetables.
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GROW is a community-based national organisation that works on mental wellbeing using a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help and support. It operates through weekly peer support groups.
Hello to everyone in Australia. My name is Tricia. I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am serving a life sentence, and, for those of you who don’t know, a life sentence in Pennsylvania means your entire life.
In New South Wales, there were previously three levels of protective custody for vulnerable inmates, such as myself, who have autism spectrum disorder and other mental health issues.
I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.
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Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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