Beyond the Plate: Exploring the Impact of Nutrition on Health in Prison

• In Event: PWG - More than a meal: The role of nutrition and food practices in prisons

Abstract

The role of nutrition in detention settings has gained increasing attention in discussions on incarcerated individuals’ well-being. Understanding how they experience and perceive nutrition is critical to assessing its potential impact on health outcomes. This paper reports on a participatory action research (PAR) study in a Flemish prison which identified nutrition in detention as one of the key health-related concerns among incarcerated individuals.

The aim of this presentation is to share key findings regarding incarcerated individuals’ perceptions of food quality, access to nutritious meals, and the potential implications for their overall health and well-being. In addition, we will reflect on the methodological benefits and challenges of participatory action research in carceral settings. Limitations of the study and recommendations for policy and future research, will also be addressed.

Authors

• Céline Tronquo, Ghent University

• Tom Vander Beken, Professor and director of the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), Ghent University

• Louis Favril, Ghent University