We know healthy and vending don’t necessarily go together naturally, but that is changing!
Vending machines are great for the office. They are convenient, and provide employees with quick and easy access to a variety of snacks and drinks. They are usually stocked with sweet or savory snacks — think cakes or chips — making healthy choices difficult to come by in the office. However, with health consciousness on the rise, many vending machine service providers are turning to healthier snack options, and employees are benefitting.
Traditional Vending Options
machine owners know that their choices aren’t necessarily the healthiest, they need to consider what products are going to fly off the shelf, and generally speaking, they are the sweet or salty snacks that people crave when experiencing a drop in blood sugar.
We get it. Healthy vending isn’t very exciting. Most people would rather pay for a bag of chips than an apple. However, the effects of having so much junk food so easily available can negatively impact employees’ health, concentration, and ultimately productivity. That means that even if you’re selling more from the vending machine, you may be losing more from your bottom line than you realize.
Having snacks available is great, and we believe that employees should have a choice of a variety of options. Offering some healthy alternatives in your vending strategy is a great way to empower employees to make better choices when it comes to nutrition, and show them that you care about their health and overall well-being.
Why You Should Consider Healthy Vending Options
Again, we aren’t saying get rid of the junk food! By all means sometimes you just want a candy bar or some salty goodness. The important thing here is to have variety. Here’s why…
A recent New York Times study found that there is a link between laws restricting junk food sales at schools and obesity rates in certain geographical locations. They tracked 6,300 students over the course of three years and found that students living in states with laws against junk food in schools gained less weight than those in states with no restrictions. While the correlation does not prove causation, we thought it was pretty interesting to say the least.
So sure, they looked at schools, but chances are that there is a correlation between healthy snack options and weight gain in the workplace. Giving your employees the opportunity to make better choices regarding their nutrition will go a long way to helping improve their overall work-life balance and experience over time.
What Are People Looking For?
There are a few trends in consumer behavior that indicate shifting to healthier options can also be more lucrative for vending machine owners. First, consumers are looking for FRESH options. They want to know when food expires. They also want quality products. Today’s consumer is feeling the pinch of inflation, but they are still willing to spend a little more for genuine quality products. On top of that, consumers are increasingly interested in where their food is coming from. They tend to prefer locally sourced products when possible.
Healthy Vending Options to Consider
-
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Many vending machines now offer pre-packaged fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas, carrot sticks, and celery.
-
Nuts and Seeds: Nuts and seeds are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Vending machines offer a wide variety of nuts, including almonds, cashews, peanuts, and walnuts. Seeds like pumpkin and sunflower seeds are also popular options.
-
Yogurt: Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and probiotics. Low-fat or non-fat yogurt can be a great snack option for those looking for a healthy vending option.
-
Granola Bars: Granola bars are a popular snack option that is low in calories and high in fiber. Look for bars that are made with whole grains, nuts, and seeds, and avoid bars with high levels of added sugar.
-
Water and Other Beverages: Staying hydrated is essential for good health. Vending machines now offer a wide range of healthy beverage options such as water, coconut water, sparkling water, and herbal teas.
In addition to offering healthy vending options, vending machines can also provide nutrition education. Vending machines can display nutrition information on the products they offer, provide healthy eating tips, and encourage consumers to make healthier choices.
Remember, when you partner with a national vending services solution, you’ll get assistance when it comes to what kind of machines you should use, pricing, product selection, machine delivery, and installment, all free of charge. Operators will help you keep your machine stocked regularly so you don’t have to worry about purchasing products or filling the machines. You’ll also get comprehensive service troubleshooting, complete with follfollow-upensure your machines are operating optimally.
We sincerely encourage you to give healthy vending a chance! You really have nothing to lose, and everything to gain when it comes to your employees’ health and wellbeing. Get in touch with us to learn more about the healthy vending options available to you today!
