For years, when people thought about food vending machines, they thought about junk food. However, as people grow more conscious about how their diet affects their health, offering healthy snacks and drinks have become a more attractive alternative to traditional vending for vending business operators. According to Reuters, over a third of Americans are currently obese. This costs $190 billion a year in extra medical spending. One cause of this is the convenience and prevalence of junk food. This has led people to want healthy options in the most convenient places of all, their vending machines. The vending industry is led by consumer desire, and having healthy vending machines and offering healthy food is a great way to increase traffic to your route.
How to Choose a Healthy Vending Machine
Healthy combo machines such as the Healthy Vend Combo Vending Machine gives vending operators the freedom and flexibility to offer healthy drinks instead of soda pop, such as water, milk and juices, and healthy snack options such as fruit, yogurt, sandwiches, string cheese, and more.
The vending products you choose are as important as your machines and your location. It’s important to keep on top of the trends and even laws in your area. For example, the “Smart Snacks In Schools” program, which went into effect in 2014 encourages schools to sell healthy foods that are aligned with the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines suggest the consumption of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy options; while limiting calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. To comply with this program, many schools have banned traditional “junk food” offerings in vending machines, so being able to supply them with healthier options can be a boon to your vending business. If you don’t have a combo machine, there are still plenty of healthy options you can offer. This includes water and juices instead of soda. Even baked chips, low-fat popcorn, dried fruit, brown rice crackers, sunflower seeds, or nuts instead of greasy chips or candy.
Healthy Vending Machines in the Workplace
Having a healthy vending machine available in the workplace may improve the overall diet of employees. Thus, increasing productivity, a win for you, and a win for the company that hosts your machines.
Healthy vending machines come in all different sizes and configurations to suit ADA compliance rules. This is also to utilize the same payment technologies, LED lighting (for lower energy consumption) and configuration options as standard machines. A reputable dealer such as A&M Equipment Sales will be able to help you find the right machines for your location and offerings. Whether it be new or refurbished, to make the most of your route, we are here to help. Joining the healthy vending movement is a great way to add to your route. Not to mention refresh the offerings in your machines. And even help improve the health of your customers, one snack at a time.