PETA loves it some top-ten lists. They especially like to rank the veg-friendliness of places like colleges, ballparks or small towns. Places where you know the food is terrible but you want to be there anyway because maybe you have priorities besides dining. I find those lists pretty boring, but I’m sure they help PETA get written up in small town and college newspapers, so more power to them.

PETA’s newest ranking is a lot more interesting. Perhaps timed to coincide with Michael Vick’s being sentenced to 23 months in prison, they’ve announced the top-ten vegetarian-friendly state prison systems in America. When you’re deciding which state to get arrested in, check this list. Unlike college, you can’t go eat off-campus.

A lot of the food seems to be along the lines of “soy Salisbury steak,” “tofu ala king,” or “meatless sloppy joes,” so it’s still foodservice slop, just without the animals. It would be great if prisons always served healthy, wholesome foods, but like schools (which we use to keep people off the streets before they’re old enough for prison), the food is usually whatever was quickest, cheapest, and makes best use of excess government-subsidized foodstuffs. Luckily there’s lots of cheap soy courtesy of the Farm Bill.

If anyone can figure out why the states are ranked in the order they are, leave a comment. From looking at the info provided, I’d say Hawaii looks best, but they only come in at number 7.

4 Comments

1. 
   Comment by

   Hannah

   on December 10, 2007 at 4:08 pm #

   surprisingly (or um maybe not), American prison have higher standards of dietary nutrition than public schools.

2. 
   Comment by

   drew.r.wilson

   on December 10, 2007 at 6:55 pm #

   I think this is hilarious! I love it!

   Digg users: http://digg.com/politics/Top_10_Vegetarian_Friendly_Prisons

3. 
   Comment by

   debya

   on December 11, 2007 at 12:10 am #

   Who’s up for some civil disobedience in Idaho?

4. 
   Comment by

   Greenconsciousness

   on December 12, 2007 at 12:43 pm #

   NOW IF THE US MILITARY WAS ONLY HALF AS EFFICIENT AS OUR PRISONS. THE MILITARY ONLY PROVIDES 3 MEALS OUR VEGETARIAN TROOPS CAN EAT. MAYBE THEY SHOULD HIRE THE PRISON MEAL PLANNERS TO HELP THEM – CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY WHEN IT DOES NOT GET ENOUGH PROTEIN THIS REALLY ANGERS ME.
   PLEASE SEND SERVICE PEOPLE IN IRAQ VEGETARIAN CARE PACKAGES

   Hello, My name is Derreck Potter and I am in the United States Air Force and currently serving in Iraq! Being a vegetarian in America is getting easier and more convenient everyday; however, being a vegetarian and deployed to the Middle East is not that easy! Yes, they now have vegetarian MRE’s (meals ready to eat) but they only make about 3 of them and they are not as tasty as a spicy Boca patty! There are several other soldiers here I work with that are interested about becoming vegetarian just from me talking to them about this great and healthy lifestyle choice. Things we need here are non-perishable items such as snack foods, high protein items, and individually wrapped items. Thank you for living the vegetarian life and please help me to show others that being a vegetarian is extremely healthy and is the only way to go!

   Thank You Very Much,

   Derreck Potter

   My address here:
   Sra Derreck Potter
   332 EAMXS/Viper AMU
   APO AE 09315-9997