If you’re sentenced to the death penalty in the United States, you’re granted a meal of (generally) whatever you want to eat for the last meal of your life. One photographer has decided to photograph the last meals of death-row prisoners, with beautiful results. 



Here’s the interesting thing: These photographs aren’t the actual meals the prisoners ate in the moment — they’re recreations. The photographer, Julia Ziegler-Haynes (and Ashley Macknica), cooked all of the dishes herself and then photographed them on the backgrounds we see here. Maybe photographers aren’t allowed during the actual last meals of prisoners? Who knows. Her new book features the meals of 24 different prisoners.

Myself, I’ve definitely wondered what my last meal would be. It’s probably be vegan French toast with my favorite jam on top, eggs over easy, whole wheat toast, and an Oreo milkshake. It’s a really fatty meal, yes. But come on, it’d be the last thing I would ever eat! And I wouldn’t be the only prisoner in history with a major sweet tooth — this prisoner wanted a whole mess of ice cream for his last meal, after being on death row for seven years.


Long story short, I find these photographs fascinating. They’re insights into the inner lives of prisoners I’ve never met, who I’ve likely never heard of. But occasionally, they’re people with whom I share favorite foods. It’s fascinating to see what someone wanted to eat on their last day on Earth. It certainly makes you think.

See more pictures of last meals here!

[via Huffington Post]

What would you select for your last meal? What do you think of the meals selected by these prisoners?

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