Overbooking is easy when you’re in college and there are so many things to do. When rushing between classes and studying and clubs, a collegiette hardly has time for lunch. Thankfully, vending machines have snacks that are quick and easy to grab on the go. Vending machines are definitely easily accessible, but are their snacks really the best option? The vending machines on campus are largely filled with chips and sweets, but they do hold quite a few healthier options, if you know where to look.
Rows 1 and 2:
The first two rows of most of the campus vending machines hold a variety of chips. They are right at your eye level as you approach the machine so you are very likely to reach for them. These shelves may have options like Cheetos or Doritos. With a calorie count of about 150 and 80 calories from fat, they aren’t the worst option if consumed in moderation. These snacks are OK to eat every once in a while, but they should not be the snack that you reach for every day as you pass through the breezeway. These two rows have snacks that are healthy or seem to be healthier. The pretzels that many of these vending machines carry are seemingly healthy. They’re a much better option than Ruffles chips, but, even though they have no calories from fat, they are extremely high in sodium. These rows also include snack mixes and popped or baked chips. These are generally the better options in the top two rows because they tend to contain less sodium and calories from fat.
Row 3:
The third row often contains sweets such as Honey Buns or Donettes. Despite being tasty and likely to give you a little buzz of energy, as they have such high sugar content, they are extremely high in fat. The products in this row average nearly 220 calories. They are much lower in sodium than anything from the chip row, but they’re very high in fat and sugar. The best option on this row would be strawberry Pop-Tarts, but only if you either eat just one in the pack or eat both as a meal. If you look at the nutrition facts on the label, it appears as though the calorie count is much lower, but the serving size is also listed as just one Pop-Tart.
Rows 4 and 5:
Rows four and five contains a variety of candy bars and some other sweets. These draw attention because of the brightly colored packaging. Twix bars and Skittles aren’t the best options, boasting an average of 260 calories per item. These items are definitely tasty and who doesn’t love some chocolate every now and then, but that’s exactly what this row should be saved for: every now and then. These aren’t good quick snacks because they won’t provide you with the energy you need to make it through your day.
Row 6:
Row six tends to have miscellaneous items. This row has items that would fit better on other rows, but there likely wasn’t enough space. Other than the pastry or sweet treat that is usually on one of the ends f this row, this row tends to have some better options, but it all depends on the vending machine.
In the sixth rows of our vending machines, there are some more favorable options. Hiding in the rows of candy bars are often granola or snack bars. These options have lower calorie counts and provide you with energy to last you until your next meal. There are also options hidden throughout such as Chex Mix and Wheat Thin chips. These are lighter snacks that can help to tide you over.
Figuring out how to quickly feed your raging appetite and get out of that mid-day slump is never easy. It may take a bit of looking around to find the healthiest option for you, but now it should be much easier to figure out what to avoid. May the odds be ever in your favor.