Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
How to Eat Healthy from Vending Machines. Many people grab snacks without considering
food quality. But there are healthy vending options. You will need A vending machine Nutrition
information and good judgment. Step 1. Do you want something salty? Crunchy? Sweet?
Decide which type of snack you're craving to make sure your choice will satisfy you.
Step 2. If it's salt you're after, go for peanuts or beef jerky. Though high in calories,
nuts provide the good kind of fat, monounsaturated, and their protein will make you feel fuller
longer. Beef jerky is also high in protein. Just be aware that that both treats are also
high in sodium. Step 3. Want something crunchy? Pretzels are a low-fat, low-calorie choice,
though they may not keep you feeling full for very long because of their high carb content.
Or get a single-serving bag of light popcorn or a package of cheese crackers; the former
contains fiber and the latter has no trans fat. If you can't live without potato chips,
look for baked ones. Step 4. To satisfy a sweet tooth, look for low-fat cookies, licorice,
fruit-flavored candy, or a fruit snack. Though high in sugar, they're low in fat. Avoid the
chocolate mini-doughnuts; there's nothing mini about the 600 calories and 36 grams of
fat some brands are packing! Trail mix, which combines nuts and dried fruit, is a good choice
if you're craving salty _and_ sweet. Step 5. Craving a candy bar? See if there's a Payday,
one of the few candy bars that gets a thumbs-up from some nutritionists because it's loaded
with nuts. If not, go for an energy or protein bar. Though most are little better than candy
bars, they do offer a slight nutritional advantage. If you want M&M;'s, choose peanut over regular
so you get some of the good fat in the nuts. Step 6. Not sure what you want? Try one of
the 100-calorie pack options so that, whatever you choose, you'll limit the damage to your
waistline. Step 7. If your workplace has a vending machine, ask the employee in charge
of ordering refills to consider providing more healthy choices, like dried fruit or
whole-wheat chips or pretzels. Did you know Americans eat 2 billion pounds of potato chips
annually.