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Less Violence, More Taste!?
Talk about motivation! When inmates act out in the Santa Cruz County Jail, as a LAST resort they get “the loaf.” The article reports that the prison officials say when ALL ELSE FAILS, they go to "the loaf" and in a few days it often does the job. Inmate stops the unruly, sometimes violent behavior. “It’s so bland they fall in line quickly. It’s the monotony of it, and they know it’s coming,” said Lt. Greg Lansdowne.It is a short term “fix” that does not show any long-term behavior change as many studies in prisons have shown that punishment is only a temporary measure that gives very short term change. However, in jail, short term fixes for unruly behavior is valued.
So, what does this mean about those of us with the freedom and the means to eat anything and as much as we want? It helps us understand how POWERFUL the unrelenting drive and pursuit of “savory satisfaction” really is.
"The loaf" has as much or maybe more nutritional value then the regular prison meal, but the regular prison meals have more taste. In a prison world where monotony in closed spaces rules, the pleasant feeling tastes of “savory satisfaction” is a high priority of EACH and every day. Hummmm. Talking with a man about his overweight struggles with daily eating, he said, “I work hard to support my family and keep this financial boat afloat. It is like a wall-less prison sometimes. The ONE TIME OF DAY I have freedom to do something just for me is at mealtime. I can get the feelings of pleasure, fullness, and satisfaction while the rest of the day is filled with one struggle after another for somebody else. It’s not that I don’t love my family or my job, but I have come to depend on the taste of food and the amount to keep me going. Meal time is ALL MINE.”
Hummmm. Sounds just like the prison environment. Prisoners wait all day for the taste of the food to give them savory satisfaction that breaks up the monotony of doing things for others or because of others in small spaces. So if the promise of savory satisfaction is enough to curb violence in prison and motivate those outside of prison to work hard for others, no wonder we as a country are vastly overweight.
Food researchers, advertisers, and corporations know this is the case. They carefully push more and more variety of tastes, increase the serving portions, and promise satisfaction—and they DO deliver--temporarily.
Just like in prison. Food is a quick fix that cuts violence and rewards good behavior but has no effect on long term changes. In the wall-less prison of challenging family life and career, it seems to do the same.
But, the sad truth is that when “taste rules” the results are a quieter and different kind of harm—-pounds and pounds of un-necessary fat.
The desperate pursuit of tastes that makes us feel temporarily lifted up, eventually weighs us down.
Reasonable control the intake of calories, enjoy tastes and the pounds and suffering go down, down, and down.
Now, let's get to it! Not easy, just possible.
Don
Don@DonElium.com
In office in Walnut Creek, CA or on Skype anywhere in the world
925 256-8282
related links
DISCIPLINARY DIET LOAF
2 ounces non-fat dry milk 4 ounces raw grated potato 4 ounces raw carrots, chopped or grated fine 1 ounces tomato juice or puree 4 ounces raw cabbage, chopped fine 7 ounces lean ground beef, turkey or re-hydrated, canned or frozen Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) 2 fluid ounces oil 1 ounces whole wheat flour teaspoon salt 4 teaspoon raw onion, chopped 1 egg 6 ounces dry red beans, pre-cooked before baking (or 16 ounces canned or cooked red kidney beans) 4 teaspoon chili powder Shape into a loaf and bake at 350-375 degrees for 50-70 minutes. SOURCE: California Code of Regulations Title 15
Requirements for when "The Loaf" is given to inmates:
1247. Disciplinary Isolation Diet. (From Sacramento, CA Jail)
(a) A disciplinary isolation diet which is nutritionally balanced may be served to an inmate. No inmate receiving a prescribed medical diet is to be placed on a disciplinary isolation diet without review by the responsible physician or pursuant to a written plan approved by the physician. Such a diet shall be served twice in each 24 hour period and shall consist of one-half of the loaf (or a minimum of 19 oz. cooked loaf) described below or other equally nutritious diet, along with two slices of whole wheat bread and at least one quart of drinking water if the cell does not have a water supply. The use of a disciplinary isolation diet shall constitute an exception to the three-meal-a-day standard. Should a facility administrator wish to provide an alternate disciplinary diet, such a diet shall be submitted to the Board of Corrections for approval.
Guideline: Regulations require that food will not be withheld from an inmate as a disciplinary measure for major infractions (Section 1083, Limitations on Disciplinary Actions). With respect to inmates who are on a prescribed medical diet, the responsible physician must be consulted prior to putting that inmate on the disciplinary isolation diet. This is to assure that the disciplinary diet does not result in any unanticipated health consequences. The regulation includes a meat substitute and the vegetarian disciplinary option can also be used for a lactose-free disciplinary diet. Both the meat and the vegetarian options for the disciplinary isolation diet meet the nutritional requirements of Section 1241, Minimum Diet. A nutritional analysis of the diet is available upon request to the Board of Corrections. This recipe was updated to comply with the new DRI requirements and the carrot portion has been changed from 4 ½ oz. to 3 oz. of Carrots.
The 72- hour limitation was moved to Section 1083, Limitations on Disciplinary Actions, because restrictions on the use of the disciplinary diet are a custody issue.
Now, let's get to it!
Don
Email Don Elium By Clicking Here
Or call 925 256-8282 Walnut Creek, CA San Francisco Bay Area
