Prison recipe book compiled after university study

A cookbook based on recipes devised by women prisoners has been published.

The book, Beyond Porridge, has been compiled following a three-year study by researchers at the University of Surrey, who interviewed 80 women in four different prisons.

The researchers discovered prisoners improvised, particularly using kettles in cells, to supplement their meals.

Recipes in the book include Oreo cheesecake, pudding in a mug and kettle chow mein.

Dr Maria Adams, associate professor in criminology, said: “Food represents a range of meanings for women in prison.

"We identified that food can be a mechanism of control that hinders choice and agency, and there needs to be more of a conversation about increasing the food budget to create wider opportunities around food in prison.”

Kirstie Hall, business and community engagement manager at HM Prison Send near Ripley, said: “The experiences and feelings that food can bring go far beyond simply a need to avoid hunger or to provide energy.

"The research showed there is an emotional effect of the types of food available, and there is a desire for wider, healthier, and more culturally diverse options.

"At HMP Send, we are planning on increasing the amount of prison-grown produce from the horticulture department."

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