Feeling that mid-day hunger pang and avoiding vending machines because you want to eat healthy? Well, here’s some good news for you. You can eat whenever you feel hungry and still maintain your healthy diet, even when snacking from a vending machine.

Don’t be surprised because vending businesses are changing today. Vending manufacturers have realized that healthy eating is gaining popularity among individuals, schools, workplaces, government and almost everywhere. So, vending machines are now stacked with healthy food options too. You just have to know and understand – what is healthy.

I am here to help. So go ahead, print this list out and quickly scan your vending machine for these snacks. These are your healthy food options from the closest vending machine.

Healthy Vending Snacks

Drinks – Do not even consider soda in your healthy diet. No, not even diet soda. Water is the best drink to have. But if you would like a drink from your vending machine, here are your options:

• Juice: If your vending machine has juices, go for it. All juices are healthy. Also look for organic juice. Check juice containers and see if any juice has “100% Juice” or “vegetable blend” inscribed on it. You can also check juice brand. If the brand name contains words “natural” or “organic” then consider them in your list.
• Smoothies: Just like any juice is healthy, any smoothie is healthy too. So, if your vending machine has smoothie, go for it. Again, look for organic smoothies. Also check for “Fresh Smoothie” inscribed on the bottle.
• Tea/Coffee/Milk: Milk is always a healthy option. So again, if your vending machine has milk, go for it. Look for organic coffee or green tea. Iced Tea is a healthy option too.
• Other Drinks: If your vending machine has none of the above drink options, then look for protein beverage, energy drinks, ginger ale or lemonade.

Snacks – You’ll find a variety of snacks in your vending machine. Possibility is that it is a snack vending machine only with more junk snack options. So, choose your snacks wisely to maintain your healthy diet.

• Yogurts: You probably won’t find a yogurt in a snack vending machine. But, if there is go for it. Not only will it fill you up, it is healthy too. And if you can find organic yogurt, then consider yourself lucky.  
• Fruits: No, I am not kidding. But yes, you won’t find fresh fruits in vending machines. What you can find are the fruit-based snacks like fruit crisps or fruit trail mix.
• Nutrition Bars/Granola Bars/Trail Mix: Generally any nutrition bar, granola bar or trail mix is considered a healthy option. But not all bars or trail mixes are healthy. So, to stay on a safe and healthy side, choose bars or trail mix that are fruits-based, have nuts or oats. Also, just for a note, not all chocolate or peanut butter bars or trail mixes are unhealthy. They also come with a healthy option. You just need to know.
• Crackers: Look for organic crackers, wheat crackers, vegetable crackers, multigrain crackers or wholegrain crackers.
• Chips/Crisps: You’ll probably find lots of chips. And no, you won’t go off your healthy diet if you grab a bag of chips to eat. Look for baked chips or popped chips. If there is more than one, then narrow down your choice by organic chips, soy crisps, wholegrain chips, multigrain chips, vegetable chips or pita chips.

So, how many healthy snacks did you find in your vending machine? If none, then it is time to replace your vending machine with a healthy vending machine.

Share this list with your family, friends and coworkers too and let them know of the healthy snacks in vending machines. Also comment below if I missed out any healthy snack.