feedingthe machine

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 30, 2008

Although more employees are requesting healthier food options in vending machines and vending companies are doing their best to meet those needs, not everyone is buying into it.

"They think they want it," said Charlie Schmidt, co-owner of Schmidt Vending, 1911 N.W. Lower Silver Lake Road. "Some actually use it, but others don't."

Schmidt said his vending company makes available healthier choices, such as skim milk, baked chips, animal cookies, pretzels, string cheese, granola bars, ham and cheese wedges, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

"We do have healthy things, and people are eating it," he said. "Overall, people still want their Snickers and Doritos."

Emily Ramsdell, retail manager for St. Francis Health Center, said the hospital offers vending machines in several locations, including at entrances, in waiting rooms and the emergency room.

"I would say, by all means, that the stuff that is good and sugary is still really popular," Ramsdell said. "We still go through tons of pop, but we're going through more diet."

The hospital is looking into adding an all-healthy vending machine.

Angie Taylor, manager of the health and wellness program for Westar Energy, said the company did a pilot program in Topeka called Healthy Vending Options. The company's vendor was asked to move all of the healthier options, such as baked chips, 100-calorie packs and crackers, up to eye level. Westar required that at least 50 percent of the items in the vending machines be healthier and also subsidized one product each month.

"The one item that is subsidized is usually empty," Taylor said.

Westar also offers a Wellness Wednesday every week, and each employee can receive one piece of fresh fruit for free.

Mary Beth Chambers, a spokeswoman for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, said BCBS makes healthy snacks available to employees, but not everyone partakes.

"We do provide them with the options to make a healthy choice," she said. "We do feel the healthier stuff doesn't sell as well. We do respect that. Our employees are adults, and they do have the options.

"About 25 percent of what is in our snack machines would be considered healthier than your normal candy bar. Between 65 and 80 percent in our drink machines are diet, caffeine-free, water or 100 percent fruit juice."

Last year, Treat America Food Services and Vend Marketing Institute LLC implemented a nutritional guideline program to help people make healthier choices at the vending machine. The Right Choice for a Healthier You program rolled out in May 2007.

Treat America, based in Overland Park, handles vending for Payless ShoeSource in Topeka, The University of Kansas and Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Carmen Gorniak, a registered dietician hired by VMI to help develop the program, said people are looking at healthier products, whether it's in vending machines or at restaurants.

"People are looking for healthier products," she said. "Foods with lower salts, lower fats, more grains and fiber. Portion control is huge in vending - Snickers bars in smaller portions and Cheetos in smaller sizes.

"It's a slow movement, but it's sticking. We're planting a seed. We're showing them they have options. Vending gets a bad rap. We need to look at vending as a positive opportunity for nutrition. It's not a box of health problems."