The Keys to Healthy Vending Machine Snacking

Vending machines aren't the first thing that people think of when someone says health food, but just because you're headed to the breakroom for a mid-afternoon snack doesn't mean you can't beat the munchies and nourish your body at the same time.

The key to a healthy vending machine experience is forethought. Try to find something that is low (or moderate) in calorie count, but still filling.
Here are a few tips to keep your trip to the vending machine from being a diet disaster.

Fiber keeps you full, and can help to keep the glycemic index down to boot, so look for whole grain options.

Protein is another gut-pleaser. Like fiber, it will keep you full longer, so you can avoid additional trips to the vending machine, or worse, a quick stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home. Look for seeds and nuts for a quick protein boost in a low-cholesterol package.

Beware of empty calories. Sugar-laden candy and processed baked goods can leave you hungry for more even after you've consumed as much as 300 calories! No nutritional value here. Look for something that not only has some fiber to keep you full, but also a dose of the good stuff. How about our organic blue corn ships infused with chia? They're packed with omega-3, essential amino acits, and calcium. There's nothing empty about this snack!

Avoid sodium traps. Processed foods account for most o f our sodium consumption. Skip the salty potato chips and the leathery, sodium-riddled beef jerkey. Fortunately, the gourmet Hawaiian sea salt that we use on our chips is astonishingly low in sodium content.

Bottom line: take just a minute to consider your options when you're standing in front of the vending machine. With the right snack choice, the afternoon craving can be conquered!

Have a healthy vending machine story? Let us know all about it.