How School Vending Machines Can Reduce Childhood Obesity
Parents are demanding that school health officials find solutions in the fight against childhood and teen obesity. Not so long ago, and even still today, school vending machines could be found stocked with all kinds of sweet and unhealthy snacks. There is no doubt that kids love the selection, but they lack the discipline to refrain from over-indulging themselves with these products. Studies have shown that the best method to avoid obesity as an adult is to begin eating healthier choices as a child. But what does this mean for the vending industry?
Adding healthy choices for kids to eat can mean additional business opportunities for vendors and food manufacturers alike. People interested in entering the vending industry may be at an advantage over existing vendors who are established in the business. The reason for this is because existing vendors may have too much already invested in the products they sell today, leaving them with fewer channels to sell their inventory. In comparison, someone new to the industry may be more flexible in the choices of school vending machines and products to sell. Another possibility is that the equipment that existing vendors have in use today may not offer the ability necessary to sell the types of snacks parents want their kids to buy.
For a vendor to make an agreement to sell food products within a school, certain criteria should be followed. When beverages are concerned, according to the American Beverage Association guidelines, only water or 100 percent juice can be sold in elementary schools, while food products for middle schools must include low calorie beverages and soft drinks. For high schools the number of sodas in the selection should not be more than 50 percent, while other healthier choices should make up the other half, like sports drinks, for example.
There is also an emotional factor at play here. When more choices exist, it puts a person more at ease and breaks up the boredom that may arise out of having the same old items to choose from. School vending machines that offer such healthy choices as milk, juice, water, sandwiches, cereal bars or crackers, can be a welcome treat that satisfies students more and enables them to focus better on their classwork.
School authorities are acknowledging the fact that stocking vending machines with healthy food choices is a more attractive choice than removing them all together. Removing them will certainly not deter children from obtaining unhealthy products because they will simply wait to get out of school to do so. Vendors who are willing to stay in pace with the changing demands of their consumers will flourish, while taking satisfaction of knowing they are helping children to get and stay healthy.
New vending business opportunities await people looking for an additional stream of income. And for those already in the business, it is important to stay current with the ever changing trends in the business to stay profitable.
Mark Sierra invites you to visit Vending Equipment Online to find more information about vending equipment.
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