Employees visit vending machines during the day for snacks.
The National Automatic Merchandising Association cites that the first glass front snack machines, similar to the ones you see today, were introduced by a company called Polyvend in 1972. You can walk down the halls of many schools, colleges and office buildings and be mere steps from a vending machine filled with a variety of snack choices. The best products for vending machines are those that promote healthy eating.
Nuts
If you're in search of a vending machine snack that's filled with protein and can help you increase your energy, opt for nuts. Choose from common vending machine snacks such as peanuts, cashews, pumpkin, almonds and sunflower kernels. Honey-roasted and salted nuts pack less benefits than nuts with no salt or added flavors.
Baked Snacks
When purchasing chips or cheese curls from vending machines, opt for the baked varieties. Traditional chips and cheese curls carry extra fat and calories and are fried in oil that may be harmful to your health, if consumed in large amounts.
Pretzels
Pretzels are long celebrated as a healthful snack to indulge in when compared to chips and cheese curls. MSNBC notes that pretzels do have their downsides, such as the high levels of sodium and lack of nutrients, so they suggest opting for whole wheat brands.
Fruit
When in doubt, grab a fruit from a snack machine, as they pack vitamins and minerals you need to keep you energized throughout the day. The sweet tastes can replace your candy bar cravings. Snack machines sometimes offer fresh oranges, apples or bananas. If fresh fruits aren't available, opt for fruit snacks made with 100 percent fruit. You can also try dry fruits such as raisins, cranberries or bananas.
Whole-Grain Crackers
Snack machines are typically filled with cracker varieties paired with cheese or peanut butter. The healthiest choice among these options is whole grain crackers with no filling, or select a whole grain cracker that has peanut butter in between.
100 Percent Juice
Skip the sodas, sugary teas and coffee when you take a trip to the snack machine, and focus on fueling your body with 100 percent juice. Apple, orange, cranberry, pineapple and grapefruit juices are healthy choices, as well as vegetable juices.
Sugar-Free Gum
When choosing gum or mints from the snack machine, consider the amount of sugar you may be consuming. Select sugar-free options to help cut the calories and sugar.
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