Schreiber students are constantly using the school’s vending machines to grab a quick bite, but the main reason people go to vending machines is that most of them are filled with sweets or chips that are mostly unhealthy. 

Although those fun snacks are very enjoyable, we need to start including healthier options to not only provide a wider variety, but to provide options that are a greater source of nutrition. 

With healthier snack options, we can help people gain more energy and therefore a more focused mindset.  Most healthy snack options like dried fruits, protein bars, and trail mixes offer lots of nutritional benefits that  help us concentrate and stay energized for the rest of the day.  

Slightly changing your snack habits by eating something with either more protein or fiber can slowly change your metabolism, which in turn has lots of benefits mentally and physically in both the short run and the long run.

Sometimes school can feel like a lot and you might just want to zone out.  Eating healthy snacks in school can make your mind much stronger to help you when you feel like you’re going to fall asleep or aren’t engaged in class. 

“I would love to see healthier snacks in the vending machines. While there is a wide variation of snacks to be picked, there aren’t many that are both healthy and taste good.  If there were a wider variety of healthier snacks in the vending machine, people would be encouraged to buy healthier snacks over the unhealthy ones,” said sophomore Tori Kaufman.

Many students have extracurriculars after school which require lots of energy and concentration.  Being able to grab a healthy snack from the vending machine to eat before practice or rehearsal is a great way to get some energy, so that you are ready to put in your best effort everyday at practice.  

Practice and rehearsal sometimes just fully drain you mentally and physically, but having those healthier options will make it easier for your body to adjust to the constant exercise and movement in school and outside of school.  

Most people can agree that having more energy before practice or rehearsal makes it so much easier to enjoy what you’re doing that day.  After having school for six hours, going to either practice or rehearsal can be draining, but with healthier snacks we can feel more stimulated to do what we love after school. 

“I think that the vending machines should have healthier snacks because children snack all day.  Readily available healthy options will give children an easier time making better choices,” said sophomore Aurora Mata.

Healthy snacks also provide muscle strength and boost your immunity.  

Having a stronger immune system can help to fight off those germs that are spreading, and being physically stronger can help with sports and other activities that require some muscle strength.  Healthier snacks have lots of benefits and should be included in every vending machine to help students gain these nutrients. 

“It diversifies food options and helps us stay focused and ready for the day.  Having healthy snacks available for kids that just need either more energy or just a quick bite to eat allows people to develop better eating habits with healthier food,” said sophomore Bella Ertel.