How One Simple Vending Machine Tweak Could Prompt Healthier Choices

510723339

Photo by: kasto80

kasto80

You’re at work, feeling a little hungry, low energy or just in the mood to take a break, so you stroll down to the vending machine in search of a snack. You feed some cash into the machine and choose something that catches your eye. A few minutes later, you’re sitting at your desk with an empty bag, greasy fingers and an unmistakable sense of regret. Why didn’t you choose something healthier?

Making snack decisions in a snap doesn’t always bring out the healthiest eater in us. To quantify this truism, researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago created a device that can be installed in vending machines that delays the dispensing of unhealthy snacks (candy and chips, for instance) for 25 seconds and but allows healthier snacks (nuts, popcorn) to be dispensed straightaway. A sign on the vending machine lets people know unhealthy snacks will take extra time to receive.

Guess what happened when the experimental machines were made available around campus? Yep, people began to choose healthier snacks.

“We saw a roughly 5 percent change in the proportion of healthy snacks” sales, Brad Appelhans, the associate professor of preventative medicine who led the project, told NPR.

It’s unclear whether people were inclined to pick healthier items to avoid the delay (and skirt the inconvenience) or because of it (more time to consider), but even those of us who don’t have access to the tricked-out vending machines can benefit from hitting the pause button when making our food choices, says Philadelphia-based registered dietitian Marjorie Nolan Cohn, MS, RDN, CEDRD, CSSD, ACSM-HFS. Implementing a snack delay — just allowing ourselves a little extra time to consider our options and their potential effects on our well-being — may allow us to break unhealthy habits.

“A simple wait period that allows someone to reevaluate their decision internally could be very beneficial,” she says. Being mindful of the sodium content of foods or considering total fat and calorie content, she adds, may be especially important for those who have high blood pressure or are trying to lose weight.

Cohn also recommends planning snacks ahead as well. “Even if you change course throughout the day from your plan, simply having a plan will promote more thought of what one is choosing to eat,” Cohn says. “And when someone thinks about what they eat — from a health perspective — they tend to choose foods that are better for their body.”

So next time you’re craving that midday candy bar, try counting to 25 and think about how it will affect your body and how you will feel afterward. You may just find yourself opting for a handful of nuts or some fresh fruit instead.

Related Links:

Amy Reiter is a writer and editor based in New York. Her work has appeared in publications including The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Glamour and Marie Claire, as well as Salon, where she was a longtime editor and senior writer.

Next Up

Subway Rolls Out Sandwich Vending Machines That You Can Talk To

Ask the interactive 'smart fridges' anything about the sandwiches.

Kylie Jenner Says the Champagne Vending Machine in Her Office Is ‘Everything’

She also has personalized pink M&M’s with her face on them and ‘little pink Starbursts everywhere.’

Services and Strategies That May Actually Help You Make Healthier Food Choices

A dietitian shares worthwhile programs, services and more that are designed to help consumers navigate nutrition.

The Espresso Machine One Food Network Editor Can't Stop Talking About

Espresso, lattes, Americanos and more right at your fingertips!

This One Trick Could Make Your Dessert Healthier

And it's way easier than you think.

Smarter Snacks: At the Vending Machine

It’s afternoon, you forgot to pack a snack and that candy bar in the vending machine is sweetly calling your name. Whether you're at work or stuck after school, sometimes the vending machine is the only option. Tell the candy bar to shut up and type in the numbers for these smarter alternatives.

Innovation Alert: Meat Vending Machines Are Here

Your 24/7 steak cravings will not go unsatisfied.

Food News: Minibars, Vending Machines Offer Healthy Alternatives

Hotel mini bars and vending machines are now offering healthier snack options, since sales of nuts and trail mix are higher than the traditional junk food.

New Vending Machine Is a Fry Lover's Fantasy

A new vending machine that dispenses fresh French fries, deep-frying them right on the spot, is a fry lovers’ dream come true.

Now You Can Get Ramen from a Vending Machine

Your noodle cravings can now be satisfied round-the-clock — and you don’t even have to interact with a human.