For Immediate Release 14 December 2006

Prison Christmas menu released

The Department of Corrections has released the 2006 Christmas menu.

National Catering Manager Russell Baker says Corrections budgets $4 per day to feed prisoners and the major difference on Christmas day is that dinner is served at lunch time.

“Christmas can be a trying period for prisoners and their friends and family,” says Mr Baker. “Corrections is committed to providing prisoners with a safe, secure and humane environment while ensuring the day is marked in an appropriate way.

“The meals on Christmas day are almost identical to that served on any other day with the added extra of a Christmas mince pie. The menu is standard across all 19 prisons. Lunch is a portion of chicken, a serving of vegetables and the mince pie. Cold meat, salads and fruit will be dished up for dinner.

“Prisoners cook the food themselves and will prepare 22,000 meals during the day. While the meals are nutritious, they are by no means lavish.”

 Prisoners’ children may receive presents through the Angel Tree Programme. The programme operates at most New Zealand prisons and is co-ordinated by the Prison Fellowship New Zealand, who organise the purchase and distribution of gifts to the children of prisoners.

 In some regions, the Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society (PARS) may purchase gifts on prisoners’ behalf for them to send to their friends and family.

 Prisoners may attend a multi-denominational service led by the Prison Chaplain if they wish to do so.

 Prisoners may receive approved gifts from friends and family, however all items are subject to normal security processes to prevent contraband entering the prison.

Christmas Day menu

Breakfast:

Cereal, milk, toast, spread, yoghurt, coffee

Lunch

Chicken, potatoes, carrots and peas
2 x slices of buttered bread
1 Christmas mince pie

Vegetarian: Jacket potato with pumpkin filling

Dinner

Slices of beef and ham
Potato salad
Lettuce
½ tomato
½ hard boiled egg
2 x slices of buttered bread
Milk
Fruit

Vegetarian: ½ avocado – mushroom and rice filling

Ends

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