Since the vending machines were reinstated at SHS, they have become a popular source of sustenance among students. The vending machines feature all sorts of snacks, ranging in price from 1 to 2 dollars, that are restocked on an as-needed basis. Every day during lunch, groups of students crowded around the machines, using their lunch pins to buy chips and drinks.
While it is considered a positive change here at SHS, some may suggest that students rely too much on them and replace their lunch with unhealthy snacks. Some students have become so dependent that they steal or borrow PIN codes from other students, causing new security concerns.
The offerings seem to cater to any taste. There are over 30 different kinds of snacks in the machines. However, most of these snacks are not a healthy replacement for breakfast or lunch. There are concerns, however, regarding the nutritional value of these items.
An Apple Cinnamon Nutrigrain bar, one of the snacks found in the machine, has 12g of added sugar, 24% of your recommended daily intake. This product is considered healthy; however, it contains more sugar than a Rice Krispie Treat, which can also be found in the machine. High sugar intake can contribute to obesity and dental problems.
Others are sodium-rich. A nutritionist listed one of the most popular snacks in the machine, Doritos Nacho Cheese, as one of the worst snacks for children due to its high sodium content. High sodium intake can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
While these are all prominent downsides, the machines also provide benefits that could arguably outweigh the drawbacks. Waking up early has proven to be a challenge for nearly everyone. Studies have shown that teenagers would benefit from waking up around 8 am. Our school day here at SHS begins promptly at 8:15 am. There is little that can be done about this, but experts agree that students will likely benefit from eating breakfast and packing their lunch.
To former SHS wellness teacher and certified dietitian Alison Mulvaney, eating when needed can make or break your school day. Mulvaney believes eating something is better than eating nothing, even if it is highly processed. She believes that if the lunch portions were more substantial, we would not have this problem, though she is not happy with the amount of plastic waste the water bottles produced. Either way, increasing the school lunch sizes could address the issue.
While Mulvaney does not encourage or discourage the machines, she thinks that “In general, students seem hungry throughout the day, so I think having more access to any food is a good thing.”