Healthy food options for corrections staff

Correctional officers work long days, and there are days when they're tasked with a double. Working long shifts four days in a row, leaves little time to grocery shop to prepare filling and nutritious snacks and meals. Therefore, they are stuck eating what is available to them at work. If chips, chocolate bars and sugary drinks are the only options available, then this is the food they will consume. Enhancing the work environment with healthier options benefits correctional officers, but it also improves institutional safety and job performance. During long shifts, correctional officer's must have access to food that keeps them mentally sharp and energized to handle any situation or problem that comes their way.

A study shows that one of the most stress-inducing factors for correctional officers is not receiving adequate support from their administration [1]. An excellent way for jail administrators to show their support for their officers is to add vending machines or a lunch program with healthy options to their facility. This addition won't only improve an officer's physical health but also shows a concern for their wellbeing. Providing better options helps curate a healthier staff, both mentally and physically, while showing staff that the administration has their best interest in mind.