The U.S. has made great progress in delivering healthier food options to our nation’s school children over the past decade, with the passage of The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and the implementation of the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards in 2014. HealthyYOU Vending proudly supports these healthy nutrition initiatives in schools by providing snack options that meet improved standards.
Many children consume half of their daily meals at school. That means what children eat at school can have a big impact on both their overall health and academic achievement. Teachers indicate that students have a harder time learning when they’re feeling hungry or sluggish from junk food. In contrast, the American Heart Association reports that children who eat healthy foods and get daily physical activity have fewer school absences, higher academic achievement and fewer behavioral problems.
Improved nutrition standards require most snacks sold in school vending machines to have less than 200 calories, and limit beverage offerings to water, low-fat milk, 100% fruit or vegetable juices, and low-calorie sports drinks. In recent years, the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has developed the FitPick® program to help identify healthier options available from vending machines.
As participating members of NAMA, HealthyYOU Vending machines offer many FitPick options among their vending products. With 665 healthier snacks and beverages that currently meet FitPick SELECT standards, NAMA’s program encourages children to make informed snack choices, and helps vending operators meet strict school nutrition guidelines that adhere to the USDA Smart Snacks in School standards.
The effort trickles down from HealthyYOU Vending’s corporate headquarters to individual owner/operators. As part of an initiative to remove junk food from school vending machines in Clarksville/Montgomery County, Tennessee, HealthyYOU Vending operators Hudson and Betsy Gray were asked to place 11 machines throughout the school district. The healthy vending machines are stocked with snacks and drinks that adhere to the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School nutrition guidelines and also meet FitPick SELECT standards.
Good nutrition at schools is more important than ever, leading to improved focus and sustained energy, both of which kids need to stay focused. With HealthyYOU Vending on site, kids also learn an important life lesson: healthy eating can be convenient, affordable, and taste good.
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About HealthyYOU Vending
HealthyYOU Vending is the world leader in the healthy vending industry. With corporate offices located in Kaysville, Utah, the HealthyYOU Vending team is dedicated to making healthier snacks, drinks and meals available in schools across the nation. All HealthyYOU Vending machines are privately manufactured in the United States at a state-of-the-art facility. To learn more about the HealthyYOU difference, or to get a machine placed at your school at no cost, visit https://www.healthyyouvending.com/.
