The Surprising Benefits of Serving Prisoners Better Food

It's probably no stretch to say that you care about our democracy and vibrant watchdog journalism. Or that you sometimes wish you could slow down the headlines and take in the news on your own terms—instead of Facebook's, Twitter's, or Trump's. And since you’re a reader of this newsletter, it’s also a safe bet that you’re someone who knows the value of rigorously fact-checked journalism that goes beyond the headlines and connects the dots on important stories that don't get enough attention. If you answered yes to even just one of those, [you ought to consider subscribing to Mother Jones magazine for just $12](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Food for Thought] March 3, 2019 [Food for Thought]( [The Surprising Benefits of Serving Prisoners Better Food]( Jose Villarreal remembers going to bed hungry most nights during his 10 years in solitary confinement at California’s Pelican Bay State Prison. Shouting through air vents between their cells, his neighbors would count the number of vegetables on their trays: eight string beans one day, 26 peas the next. “It became almost a joke,” Villarreal recalls. But the public health effects from this menu are no laughing matter. ([Mother Jones]() Climate change is now. A major new report shows how fisheries have been changed forever. ([Mother Jones]() It's not just our oceans though. Life on earth is getting more homogenous. Here's why that's dangerous. ([BBC]() Indiana expanded farmers' market SNAP benefits. Now they just need to get people to use them. ([New Food Economy]() Ever hear the phrase "beer before wine, you'll feel fine?" Researchers in Germany finally tested it. ([Mother Jones]() Yogurt more precious than gold. For South Asians, it's worth smuggling heirloom cultures into the country to preserve familial and cultural ties. ([New York Times]() —Advertisement— [Gundry MD]( New From Bite Podcast Domee Shi, director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short film Bao, was afraid that people "would be too upset" by the shocking turn in her fantastical tale about a cute, little Chinese dumpling. But it ended up being her secret ingredient. Hear it on Bite, episode 77: "[Pixar Director Domee Shi Gives a Sweet Dumpling a Dark Twist](" What's Cooking When I think of lonely late nights and moody early mornings, I also think of spicy bacon pasta. Four years ago, I worked as a server at a restaurant, meaning I came home very late. My roommate at the time worked as a bartender with similar hours. When he got hungry, he got generous and made enormous portions of spicy bacon pasta, a dish so ludicrously simple and powerfully delicious that we ate and kept eating until it was gone. I still make it in lonely hours, or at the end of the night for good friends who must be sustained. It's a highly variable recipe, so you can play around with it. Or appreciate it in its simplicity. —Kari Sonde, editorial fellow Spicy Bacon Pasta (SBP) Ingredients: 2-3 strips thick cut bacon 1-2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped red chili flakes to taste 1 15 oz. can of San Marzano tomato puree 1 1lb box of linguine black pepper to taste feta or parmesan cheese Directions: Chop bacon into squares or strips, and fry (starting in a cold pan), on medium heat. When the bacon is cooked, add the garlic and chili flakes and let cook until fragrant. Stir in the can of tomato puree, and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the flavors combine. Meanwhile, boil the linguine to al dente as the package directs. Save a half cup of the pasta water, and drain the rest. Add the pasta and pasta water to the sauce, and toss to coat. Top with feta or parmesan cheese—I like feta and my former roommate prefers parmesan. Hungry for more food news? Follow Mother Jones Food on [Twitter]( and [Facebook](, and find all of our food stories at [www.motherjones.com]( Did someone forward this to you? [Click here]( to sign up to get more Food for Thought in your inbox! —Advertisement— [Gundry MD]( Food for Thought comes to you from Mother Jones, an award-winning, investigative journalism outlet that was founded as a nonprofit magazine in 1976. [Donate]( [Subscribe to Mother Jones]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To stop receiving email from Mother Jones or manage your subscription preferences, click [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [www.MotherJones.com]() 222 Sutter Street, #600 San Francisco, CA USA 94108