Good News: Bloomberg Now Counting Calories at Rikers Island

Forget three hots and a cot. These suckers are now having the bread intake (whole wheat, of course) and calorie-count reduced in a budget-conscious effort. It's what New York needs more of: leaner, faster criminals when they're let loose. Look at the upside. It's one less story about Mike Bloomberg mulling a presidential run.

Mayor Bloomberg's budget bloodbath has at least one major benefit: Slimmer inmates at Rikers Island.

Hizzoner wants to slash prisoner rations from eight whole-wheat slices of bread a day to six as part of the $1.6 billion budget modification proposed this week.

The lower carb diet will save the city some $350,000 a year and knock 160 calories off the daily diet of our incarcerated crooks, the Correction Department says.

Nutritionists say that's probably a good thing - for everybody.

"They should be properly fed, but the majority of them don't need those extra calories," said Manhattan-based nutritionist Keri Glassman.

The average diet for male inmates is close to 3,000 calories, slightly more than recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The city is also looking to cut costs by removing chocolate and vanilla pudding from the Rikers Island menu - and putting the kibosh on black pepper.

No more black pepper? Isn't his War on Salt enough? Now he's after pepper?