Have you ever eaten a honey bun sandwich? I would be very surprised if many people answered yes to that question or even had any idea such a thing existed. The sandwich is two honey buns with a melted chocolate candy bar sandwiched between them — more than 1500 calories, obviously not nutritionally advised. My practicum experience has dispatched me into a realm where such curious comestibles exist, are prevalent and have health consequences. Where is this epicurean nirvana you may ask? Well, most prisons in the United States have commissaries which sell snack food items to incarcerated persons and I am doing my practicum at the Federal Bureau of Prisons male and female medical referral centers in Texas. The prisons I am working with are medical referral centers which housing sicker patients many requiring a higher level of medical care such as those with complications associated with chronic diseases, cancer or dialysis patients.

During my practicum, I have encountered a food environment where the culture is permeated with the consumption of elaborately prepared snack food fare, often as a counter measure to boredom or stress.

The commissary at Federal Prisons in the United States is much like a convenience store which is set up to provide the incarcerated with the opportunity to purchase items that are not issued routinely to them by the administration, within limits of course. The items offered run the gamut from mp3 players to shoes to snack foods and beverages. Offenders, purchase their needs with funds deposited by either the offender them self, friends or relatives in trust accounts that are administered by the TRUST FUND.

I have been engaged in reviewing and performing a nutritional assessment of commissary food and beverage items. This analysis will be used to label commissary food items as healthy, somewhat healthy or unhealthy using the Nutrition Environmental Measures Survey (NEMS) as a guide. The NEMS has been useful in identifying additional healthy food items that may be added to the commissary inventory,

I have been involved in planning with the administrative staff and educating clinical staff as to what healthy options are available for offenders to purchase in the commissary and will be creating a promotional program for encouraging offenders to make healthier choices.
This practicum has been an eye-opening experience and if you an adventurous palate, you might try the Ramen Tamale from the YouTube video below or from one of the several recipe books published on meals crafted from prison commissary fare.