Lauryn Hill to Aaron Hernandez -- My Prison Food Is WAYYY Better Than Yours!

Lauryn Hill is living the PRISON HIGH LIFE ... at least compared to Aaron Hernandez -- and TMZ has the menu to prove it.

Let's start with their first meals ...

When Lauryn checked into Federal Correctional Institute in Connecticut on Monday to serve her 3-month sentence for tax evasion, she was served up with some tasty BBQ pulled pork with a side of carrots, peas and sweet potatoes. To wash it down: she was able to choose from an array of juices or milk. WHO'S HUNGRY?

Compare that to Hernandez ... whose first meal at Bristol County Jail included scrambled eggs and grits, and chop suey with green beans and bread. Prison chop suey? No thanks.

As for day-to-day life, Hill will do menial work like cleaning the grounds, educational department help, yard work, or working in the religious services department. At night, she's housed in barracks with other inmates so she can laugh and talk and have fun!

Hernandez is being kept in a 3x5 cell for 21 hours a day, only allowed out for three hours a day, allegedly for his own safety. Oh ... and he's all alone in solitary confinement. Boooooring!