„Johnny sacks“ (or johnnies) are bagged lunches given to Texas prisoners during lockdowns, notorious for being low-quality, cold, and often inedible, consisting mainly of mushy sandwiches with mystery meat or peanut butter on stale bread, plus dry cereal, boiled eggs, and sometimes raisins, leading to inmates reporting hunger despite the state claiming meals meet FDA standards. These sack meals replaced hot meals, sparking widespread criticism and reports of insufficient, unappetizing food.
Texas prison inmates are legally entitled to a nutritious diet, generally around 2,000 to 2,500 calories daily, though past budget cuts have aimed to lower this (In 2003, cuts reduced the standard from 2,700 to 2,500 calories due to budget issues), with some reports suggesting meals often fall short or are inconsistent, while special diets (like for diabetics or dialysis) offer variations.
But if you think that the food you just saw is an exception, then you are underestimating what the trays look like on regular days! There are former inmates who have reported that they almost choked on their first normal meal in the outside world because, after decades of prison food, they had simply forgotten that you have to chew normal food. THIS is normal prison food on a typical tray:
