New Jersey
School Vending Machines
You might wonder how school vending machines could promote good nutrition. After all, aren’t we just potato chip peddlers and soda slingers?
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
At Atlantic Vending, we understand that good nutrition is the foundation for good health and academic success. As parents ourselves, we know how important it is for children to have access to nutritious snacks to keep their focus and energy up throughout the day. And studies have shown time and again that kids who have healthy eating patterns are more likely to perform better academically.
That’s why we are proud to do our part to provide New Jersey’s children with healthier vending options in their schools.
With the help of local nutritionists, we developed a targeted school vending program specifically designed to assist food service directors and school administrators in meeting their nutrition and wellness goals and local, state, and national standards.
Having healthy vending options plays a huge role in creating a healthier learning environment.
It’s a great way for students and staff to model healthy behaviors and continue building lifelong healthy habits.
More than a quarter of kids’ daily calories may come from snacks.
The “Smart Snacks in School” Initiative
At the start of the 2014/15 school year, the Federal Government put new regulations in place governing all snacks and foods sold in schools –including vending machines. Called the Smart Snacks in School Initiative, the program outlines detailed nutritional criteria and is designed to reinforce healthy eating habits.
The “Smart Snacks in School” nutrition standards include:
- Encouraging and providing more nutritious snack selections, including whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and leaner protein.
- Food items that are lower in fat, sugar, and sodium and provide more of the nutrients young people need.
- Targeted standards allowing for variation between elementary, middle and high school age groups.
We work to ensure the items in our vending machines meet or exceed the Smart Snacks in Schools requirements. Every item in our vending machines contains:
- 7 grams of fat or less
- 260 calories or less
- 250 mg sodium or less
Benefits of Vending Machines in Schools
The debate over whether vending machines should be allowed in schools is nothing new. In fact, it contributed to the creation of the Smart Snacks in Schools Initiative. Many argue that because the food and drinks sold in school vending machines are unhealthy, that kids shouldn’t be able to buy these at their own discretion. Parents don’t want their kids wasting lunch money on chips and soda, which is a concern we completely understand.
The truth is that since the Smart Snacks in Schools Initiative was enacted and standards were set for the contents in school vending machines, this is less of a concern. While kids can still buy a sweet or salty treat, those options are much healthier than before.
We, along with many other, believe that vending machines are a great addition to schools. They give students the opportunity to get a snack or drink between classes, before practice, or when they’re just plain hungry. Allowing students to purchase a pick-me-up or a snack to hold them over until their next meal can make all the difference in their performance that day.
Bring Healthy Vending Machines to Your School
Atlantic Vending is dedicated to supporting students by promoting good nutrition and providing healthy vending choices to New Jersey schools. To find out more about our school vending machines, contact us by filling out the contact form below or by giving us a call at 1-888-218-8363.
Atlantic Vending
