We all like to get our snack on from time to time, and vending machines allow us the opportunity to do wherever we may be. It may not be the best option when it comes to eating, but for those who are healthy conscious eaters, it’s nice to know that there are some products available in those machines that will not add any girth to the waistline. It should be noted that these snack will not be for everyone, and for those that do want them, you are probably going to have to look way down to the bottom row of the vending machine in order to find them, as they are usually nestled somewhere between the gum and the broken rack.

The top pick for healthy snacks goes to Planters Sunflower Kernels, with 160 calories per serving, but jam packed with healthy fats. What’s unhealthy is all the spitting that goes with eating sunflower seeds.

A good old bag of chips comes in second with Baked Lays Originals getting the nod. 210 calories, but a huge amount of your necessary daily fiber intake, means you should eat them regularly…..pun intended.

Sun Chips are thirds, weighing in with 140 calories, but the fact that they are made from whole grains makes them a healthy alternative to greasy, salty potato chips.

Snyder’s Of Hanover Mini Pretzels are next, and even though the name is a mouthful, eating a bunch won’t make you pack on the pounds. I’m not sure about the healthy part though; didn’t George W. Bush get a black eye when he choked on a pretzel?

Popcorn has always been thought of as a healthier alternative to chips, and Smartfood reduced fat Popcorn proves that point by delivering a snack that is both low in fat and high in fiber.

Peanut M&M’s surprisingly come in at number 6 combining chocolaty goodness with the healthy peanut; finally something on the list I can eat without gagging.

At only 110 calories and 16% fat, Fig Newtons make the top 10 by providing the consumer with an alternative way to get a serving of fruit.

Nature Valley’s Oats & Honey Granola Bar is next, and although granola doesn’t exactly excite the taste buds, it much better to eat one of these than a chocolate bar, any day of the week.

If it’s protein you are searching for, then look no further than Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts to get your fill.

The chocolate lover gets another healthy surprise at number 10; Quaker Chocolate Chunk Chewy Low Fat Granola bars will fill your body with goodness, whilst satisfying that sweet tooth.

It’s nice to know that there are healthy options available for the serial snacker, but just remember that eating 4 packs of those yummy peanut M&M’s does not thrust you into the realm of health nut, it just makes you a glutton.

 

We are all pretty well aware that vending machines are not the home for foods that will help us maintain a healthy, slim line lifestyle. They are generally packed with salty snacks, chocolate bars, and cans of soda that are almost the equivalent of drinking a bag of sugar. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to do a little research and find out which of those delicious snacks are in fact the unhealthiest. I ran across the vibrant life website which listed the top 10 unhealthiest foods found in common vending machines.

At number one is the Drake’s Apple Fruit Pie; just one of those little babies accounts for 470 calories and is made up of 51% fat content; listen close and you will hear yourself getting fatter whilst eating one.

Next up are Austin Cheese Crackers with Cheddar Cheese, and although you might believe that eating crackers is a healthier alternative to salty potato chips, you’d be wrong. One serving of these cheese and crackers is 190 calories and 46% fat.

My breakfast of choice is next; Strawberry Frosted Pop-Tarts, where even the low fat version comes in at 190 calories per serving, and considering there are 2 in a pack, that’s a whopping 380 calories.

Doritos are at number four, those triangular orange chips accounting for 120 calories and 28% fat per serving, not to mention your laundry costs when trying to get orange fingerprints off your clothing.

I’m sensing a pattern here as another of my favorites come in at number 5; skittles, those rainbow colored sugary treats, pack an amazing 231 calories per pack.

Cheez-It Baked Snack crackers are next, and they bring 140 calories and 33% fat to the scales.

Oh dear, it appears those deliciously ridged Ruffles chips are not the best option when it comes to eating a salty snack. Each pack contains 160 calories and a ridiculous 58% fat.

Right behind that is another entry in the chip category, and yet another obnoxious orange one at that. Crunchy Cheeto’s serve up 160 calories and 57% fat per serving.

I smell some sort of vending conspiracy here as my favorite chocolate bar, Twix, comes in at number 9. Each pack contains 250 calories and 44% fat. Thankfully that is for both pieces combined, otherwise I wouldn’t be tipping the scales, I’d be shattering them.

Closing out the top 10 is the 3 Musketeers candy bar coming in at 260 calories and 27% fat. It seems these musketeers are “all for one and one inch round the waistline.”

I can’t really say I’m surprised that vending machine snacks are unhealthy, but we should be okay if we understand that these items should be consumed as a snack treat, and not combines to make up our entire meal plan for the day.

 

Vending machines are so prevalent in our society now, we barely even give them a second thought. We just robotically go through the process of sticking in our money and getting the product of our choice in return. But do you ever wonder what exactly goes into making one of those machines? Well, for those of you whose interest in them goes beyond finding your favorite candy, here is a quick breakdown on the construction of a vending machine.

The first part of the machine that is constructed is the cabinet; it’s usually made from galvanized steel and in then the outer surface is coated and baked with an acrylic powder. A steel inner lining called a tank is then inserted into the cabinet and then come the feeder trays; those are the wire spirals that keep the products in place, and are designed to release them, one at a time, as the spiral rotates. Next up is the door and, in the case of cold drink machines, oftentimes a second door is installed to help insulate and control the temperature. The outer door is used to house the electronic controls as well as the coin and bill slots. All the signage and display graphics are silk-screened on to the outer door which is generally made up of Lexan panels. Lighting is then wired in, usually behind the panels, and the finishing touches, such as hinges and locks, all designed to keep would be thieves out, are added last.

Before the finished machines are sent out to the malls and store fronts of the world, they undergo a rigorous testing system that ensures they are in fully functioning order. All the wiring and electronic components are tested, and the racks are measured to make sure they are fitted correctly. Any issues that arise during the testing phase are taken care of by quality control technicians that fix any glitches before the machine is released for outside use.

The steps for making vending machines have pretty much stayed the same over the years, the only real changes coming in the electronics department. First it was the coin slots which were changed to accommodate paper bills as well, and in countries like Japan, cell phone technology has been incorporated, allowing buyers to access the products using a phone rather than the traditional currency slots. Debit and credit cards will be the next slots to be added, and many of the larger vending companies have made a shift to remote vending, where they can change prices, add discounts etc., without a technician having to physically go to the machine. Most of these upgrades are put in place so that vending machines will eventually be cashless which, makers hope, will cut down on the amount of vandalism by thieves looking to get at the cash. Either way, all these changes will benefit the consumer who will soon have many more options available for getting their snack on.