Not very healthy though, instant noodles are deep fried and usually tons of sodium.

Making non-instant ramen is pretty easy though, especially if you have to feed hundreds of people. It basically amounts to making an asian-spiced soup, throwing in veggies and some soup-meats (or good meat if you're feeling fancy), maybe an egg or two if you can get them on the cheap and add ramen.

It's still pretty cheap (depending on what you put in of course), and it's not that bad in terms of nutrients. But hey, it's more expensive than the "bricks 'n goo" they serve these days.

They discuss why meals are often bland and unappetizing in this article [1].

> It’s not that the authorities haven’t noticed the blandness. The food lacks strong flavoring and other distinctions by design. To appeal to the widest possible population, spices are added sparingly; even salt is omitted because of some inmates’ dietary restrictions.

However, it's also made to be nutritious and I don't think ramen would quality.

> While jail food is undeniably bland, it is nutritious, at least according to the standards followed by Title 15 regulations based on Section 6030 of the California Penal Code.

[1] http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/...

There's possibly a market for single serving condiments, or for a prison-safe condiment serving machine.

EDIT: Or a charity which distributes these.