Vending Machines in School
Having vending machines in schools has always been a debated topic. The biggest problem that people have in regard to vending machines in schools is that they are usually full of snacks that are very high in fat, sugar, and salt content. These types of food include potato chips, cookies, candy, and soft drinks. This is affecting students in a bad way because students with access to foods that are unhealthy are more likely to make unhealthy eating choices. “Many studies have examined the dietary risk behaviors related to overweight and obesity, such as children's and adolescents' consumption of high-fat snacks and their low consumption of fruits and vegetables” (Kocken, 2012). These behaviors begin early in life and are very common to American children with access to the type of food provided in vending machines.
Pros and Cons of Vending Machines
Pros
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Cons
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Vending machines that provide junk food and soda to students are not a positive thing when looking at nutrition in schools. Students that consume this type of food are more likely to do worse in school and have worse behavior than those that do not consume foods that are low in protein, high in carbs and high in fat (Thompson, 2010). They affect even the students that do not actually purchase the items available in the machines. The exposure to that type of food everyday from seeing the slogans and brand names with the catchy and exciting packages displayed may cause them to make unhealthy food choices outside of school (Thompson, 2010).
The school food environment includes the USDA’s breakfast and lunch options as well as vending machines, school snack bars, and from school stores. These food choices can influence a student’s decision making when it comes to food and nutrition. 62. 4% of middle schools and 85. 8% of high schools have vending machines with a majority of the food and drinks provided are low nutrient foods (Pasch, 2011). Studies have shown, however, that foods in these vending machines can be replaced with healthier options and be well received by the students. Changing the types of food in vending machines can have a positive effect on a student’s food choices.
The selling of soft drinks in schools can have a particularly bad effect on students. In one study, the behavior of students in a school that had access to vending machines with soft drinks was worse than those without access (Price, 2012). The students that regularly consumed drinks with such a high sugar content were more often sent to the principal’s office and even skipped class more often. In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the availability of soft drinks be taken away from students in order to provide them with drinks made from real fruit and vegetable juices, water, and milk (Price, 2012). This started a wellness program for a lot of schools in which they regulated the soft drinks they provided to the students by getting rid of the vending machines within schools (Price, 2012).
Some schools choose to keep their vending machines because they provide a snack to students at the times of the day when they do not have other food available and because they create a revenue for the school. These schools should try to provide snacks that have more nutritional value. In certain schools districts, the schools tried just that. They began to include more snacks with a higher nutrition content in their vending machines. They also sold those items at a lower cost than those that are considered junk food. With these conditions, the students tended to make the healthier choices, which means that vending machines can be a positive thing in schools when stocked with the right items (Kocken, 2012).
The video below shows the effects of vending machines on schools and what should be done to keep up the revenue the schools make from them, but also influencing better eating for students.
The school food environment includes the USDA’s breakfast and lunch options as well as vending machines, school snack bars, and from school stores. These food choices can influence a student’s decision making when it comes to food and nutrition. 62. 4% of middle schools and 85. 8% of high schools have vending machines with a majority of the food and drinks provided are low nutrient foods (Pasch, 2011). Studies have shown, however, that foods in these vending machines can be replaced with healthier options and be well received by the students. Changing the types of food in vending machines can have a positive effect on a student’s food choices.
The selling of soft drinks in schools can have a particularly bad effect on students. In one study, the behavior of students in a school that had access to vending machines with soft drinks was worse than those without access (Price, 2012). The students that regularly consumed drinks with such a high sugar content were more often sent to the principal’s office and even skipped class more often. In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the availability of soft drinks be taken away from students in order to provide them with drinks made from real fruit and vegetable juices, water, and milk (Price, 2012). This started a wellness program for a lot of schools in which they regulated the soft drinks they provided to the students by getting rid of the vending machines within schools (Price, 2012).
Some schools choose to keep their vending machines because they provide a snack to students at the times of the day when they do not have other food available and because they create a revenue for the school. These schools should try to provide snacks that have more nutritional value. In certain schools districts, the schools tried just that. They began to include more snacks with a higher nutrition content in their vending machines. They also sold those items at a lower cost than those that are considered junk food. With these conditions, the students tended to make the healthier choices, which means that vending machines can be a positive thing in schools when stocked with the right items (Kocken, 2012).
The video below shows the effects of vending machines on schools and what should be done to keep up the revenue the schools make from them, but also influencing better eating for students.