Christmas in prison: ‘Basic, nutritious’ menu for prisoners revealed

Christmas in prison: ‘Basic, nutritious’ menu for prisoners revealed
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Many of us blow the price range when it will come to Christmas feasts, with connoisseur appetisers and lavish spreads of expensive ham, salmon, lamb or turkey, a variety of vegetables, salads and extravagant bottles of bubbly, rounding off with a number of dessert options.

But the Department of Corrections will be shelling out just $1.10 additional for every prisoner on December 25 – the cost of two celebratory fruit mince tarts.

Xmas Day in jail will be a lot like any other working day, with a “fundamental, nutritious meal” and quite possibly some excess sporting activities and other activities.

Roast chicken and veges are on the menu again for prisoners this year. File photo / Department of Corrections
Roast hen and veges are on the menu yet again for prisoners this yr. File image / Department of Corrections

Far more than 7500 prisoners close to New Zealand will be tucking into warm roast meals at a overall charge of $7.63 for each prisoner, Corrections explained in a statement.

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That is the regular day-to-day menu value of $6.53, as well as $1.10 for the tarts.

“A standard, wholesome meal will be served on Christmas Working day, with roast rooster and veggies for lunch, and rooster with rice and salad for evening meal, along with two fruit mince tarts to accept the working day,” main custodial officer Neil Beales mentioned.

Vegetarians can have crumbed spinach and pumpkin patties for lunch, with falafel, rice and salad for meal.

“Our Xmas lunch is the exact at all 17 prisons we deal with nationwide and is similar to what has been supplied on Xmas Day for several several years.”

The foods would be built by prisoners as element of an marketplace education plan which prepares them for operate when they get out of jail.

Beales mentioned Xmas could be a truly complicated time, significantly for the families of adult males and females in jail.

“All through December our web pages delivered whānau things to do in which children are able to read through books, make items and participate in games with their mum or father to celebrate the season.”

Auckland prisons hadn’t been in a position to host face-to-face visits due to Covid restrictions, but prisoners had been supplied added phone cards to maintain in contact with loved kinds.

Corrections personnel and men and women in jail had also been providing back again to the neighborhood. Guys at Hawkes Bay Regional Jail experienced sewn 104 Xmas decorations, desk runners and 30 introduction calendars – which were filled with treats donated by jail staff and supplied to regional charities.

Men at Hawkes Bay Regional Prison have sewed advent calendars and Christmas decorations to give to charity this year. Photo / Supplied
Adult men at Hawkes Bay Regional Prison have sewed introduction calendars and Xmas decorations to give to charity this 12 months. Image / Equipped

Fresh seasonal make like leeks, lettuce, strawberries and potatoes grown by prisoners had been donated to foodbanks and charities, and Corrections team experienced also been gathering gifts for the children of prisoners and regional charities.

“Christmas gives persons in jail the chance to give back, which we know provides a sense of purpose and pleasure and assists persons to really feel related to their community. This can be an essential action in direction of a person generating optimistic improve in their life,” Beales reported.

Beales also acknowledged Corrections staff, several of whom would be working by way of the vacation.

Boxes of goodies donated by Corrections' national office to the Wellington City Mission. Photo / Supplied
Packing containers of goodies donated by Corrections’ nationwide office environment to the Wellington City Mission. Photo / Provided

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