5 advantages of vending machines in Schools

As more regulations and policies are released surrounding the food and beverages that schools can offer, it's become critical to provide students with healthy, nutritious options that are genuinely beneficial to their physical, as well as mental health.

With the push away from the more traditional school lunches to health-focused meals and snacks, it's become essential to offer students a wide variety of healthy alternatives. Today we will walk you through a few of the key advantages vending machines can provide schools.

1.Improves Student Focus

No student performs at their best when they're hungry or thirsty. By providing additional food and drink options to students, it keeps them less distracted by the sensation of hunger or thirst. Instead of having to wait until lunch, students can quickly and easily access nutritious snacks and drinks on their own time.

Ultimately, this allows students to focus on the more important task of being a student, which involves learning and growing to their fullest potential.

2. Introduces variety

Depending on the school, school lunches can tend to be restrictive or narrow in the number of options they can provide. We've all been there, when we've had to eat whatever was offered for lunch because there was no other choice.

Vending machines can be a reliable resource as they offer students with more flexibility in what they choose to eat. And with some vendors, they'll even work with you to offer snacks and drinks for students who may have dietary restrictions, creating a more inclusive and flexible environment for students.

Furthermore, many of us know that obesity has become a massive problem in the United States. This comes down to the food and drinks we give to our children. When done right, vending can have a direct impact on the eating habits of young people by encouraging healthy dieting.

3. Options for extra-curricular activities

For many students and staff, school does not end at the final bell. Many are involved in after school programs, extra-curricular activities, and athletics. In most schools, the cafeteria will likely have shut down by then, leaving students and staff with very limited options.

On the other hand, vending machines never shut off. They operate 24/7, rain or shine. Placing a vending machine in your school will allow students and staff to always have nutritious options available, which not only improves their performance, but also shows that the leaders of that school genuinely care about the well-being of those students and staff.

4.Boosts Morale

Teaching and learning can be a tedious task at times. Those little moments when you get a quick break and can enjoy a healthy snack with your friend or colleague is just what you need to get reinvigorated and focused.

As mentioned, when students are fueled and hydrated, they become more engaged. And when teachers are fueled and hydrated, they become better educators.

5.Cost effective

While school's can pursue and operate machines on their own, enlisting the services of a vendor does relieve the school and staff from the labor, attention, and money it requires. Hiring a vendor is cost effective because most will do it for free, it's much less of an investment than doing it internally, and it frees up your administrative staff to focus on the more important aspects of your school.

In addition, there's also the upside potential for new sources of funds. Many vendors will put in place a commission or revenue sharing structure with schools. This can allow schools to reinvest those funds back into the school and improving the programs provided to their students and families.

Conclusion

While the list of benefits to schools is long, these were some of the most important we wanted to touch on. We hope this provides some insight into how we can provide better, more nutritious options to the younger generations today.

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