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Will We Lose Money If We Incorporate Healthy Vending Machines In My School?

August 26, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment

The Healthy Vending Myth

Ever wonder if your school would lose money if they incorporated healthy vending machines? Would you like to know how schools are making money? Watch and I will tell all.

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Everything is free and there’s nothing to buy.  Just go to www.vending-machines-in-schools.com/free to get the 20 videos and the exclusive video webinar, instantly.

These are the secrets that no one else will tell you and you’ll be doing your kids a whole lot of good by watching these info-packed videos.

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Healthy Vending, School Vending, Videos

One More Step To Creating A Better Vending Machine World (Especially In Schools)

July 18, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment

Hello Again! Its me, Brian Knopke, and I had to send out an update of the current situation of the child nutrition legislation.  We are getting closer to an overhaul of vending machine items that can be offered in schools.  There is one big agreement that I believe will be huge in the rolling out widespread change in school’s vending machines. To find out what it is you’ll have to watch…

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Healthy Vending, School Administration, School Vending, Videos

Let’s Move: First Lady Fights Childhood Obesity

July 10, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment

Hey guys I’m just about to take off to Santa Barbara, Ca so I made a video instead of writing. I had to make sure I gave Michelle Obama some props before I go.  Her “Let’s Move” Campaign is starting to gain momentum with the new Childhood Nutrition Bill being in the middle of debate and after new studies show that 28 states saw an increase in obesity rates the past few years. Vending machines in schools is here to  keep up the fight and I want you all to enjoy the video….

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Childhood Obesity, Students, Videos

How Much Would You Pay To Know The Future Of Vending Machines In Schools?

July 2, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment

Childhood Nutrition Bill on a Bus CartoonToday Congress began talks on the reauthorization of the Childhood Nutrition Bill.  Congress expressed the major issues as being obesity, hunger, and school food safety.  Administrations and the snack and soda vending machines in schools are going to change.

In fact, one of the first specialist, Chef Tom Clocchio, made a statement to Congress which emphasized the need to remove all junk food from all vending machines. Although vending may be somewhat of a behind the scenes industry with most people knowing very little how it works this news can have a huge affect on the pocket book of schools and vending machine operators.

So what can be done?

Schools need to:

  • Write their house representative and demand that this bill be reauthorized.
  • They must demand money so they can update their vending machines. Old machines cannot vend many of the healthy snacks.
  • Find companies that have specialized knowledge in healthy vending and ask for assistance.

Vending Machine Operators need to:

  • Understand that change is coming. The vending industry has not changed much the past 20 years but schools are big accounts and their needs are about to change in a big way
  • Find whole sellers the carry healthy foods
  • Research manufacturers that specialize in healthy vending machines in schools.

With this new legislation there are plenty of opportunities to position oneself to profit from this change. Many vending machine operators have been doing the same thing for a very long time. They do not want to change cause the are comfortable with their current lifestyle. If you are a decision maker getting familiar with the new trend of health and wellness is a must.  It is coming to the schools whether you like it or not. Personally, I love it!!

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Healthy Vending, School Administration, School Vending

Sugar, Fats and Childhood Obesity. How Vending Machines In Schools Are Helping To Fight Them.

July 2, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment
Obese child flexing is muscles

Childhood Obesity

So my hard drive just recently crashed and I’ll be without a computer for the next few days, but I could not let this one go. My friend just sent me an article on the state of the obesity rates in the U.S. Bad news people. 28 states had a rise in obesity rates just last year. Yes, that is more than half of the United States. It is hard to believe, but the economic downturn may have been a factor (I have not seen any facts on this so do not quote me). With this news I felt troubled. There is so much data showing that obesity causes terrible health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. All can cut a life way too short.  Yet the rates still rise. It seems that you cannot persuade adults as easily, but it looks like children are not so stubborn.

It also said in the article that childhood obesity rates have stabilized. Great news right. Kids are healthy again.

Not so fast, 16.4 percent of children aged 10 to 17 are obese and 18.2 percent are overweight. Crazy statistics.

So more good news cause that is more fun to write about anyways. A recent poll showed that 80 percent of Americans think childhood obesity is major problem. Even without the polls one can see the changes being made at all levels of government where the community demands it. We need more of this, but here are some of the changes being made.

  • The First Lady’s health program “Let’s Move”
  • Health care legislation that gives support to obesity-related project
  • Nutritional standards for meals and snacks

So here is where making sure vending machines in schools are filled with only healthy items. Snacks are vital to children who cannot consume enough food, because the bellies are so small, to last them very long. Snacking is the only way for them to have the energy they need to succeed in school. Keep up the fight, and we will get those statistics turn around.

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Childhood Obesity, Healthy Vending, School Administration, School Vending, Students, Videos

ABC’s Of Healthy Food in Snack and Soda Vending Machines Part 2

July 1, 2010 By Brian Knopke 1 Comment
Students holding healthy drinks from the vending machine

Healthy Drinks for Students

When the winter fades and the sun climbs higher in the sky and the heat descends sometimes only a cold refreshing beverage can offer relief.  Many times the only place to find that cold drink is in a soda vending machine.  Your options are soda, soda, and soda. Alright, your probably saying that most soda vending machines offer water, but think about a young kid’s decision making process.  They are not thinking about health or nutrition they are thinking about the latest coke ad and what tastes the sweetest.  We cannot ask children to make these decisions. Childhood obesity is at epidemic levels because the children have been choosing foods without the future in mind.  Our brain does not register liquid calories as it does with solid foods need to be chewed. We already discussed the ABCs of choosing from snack vending machines in Part 1 and now here is the ABCs for soda vending machines.

ABCs for Picking Healthy Options from a Soda Vending Machine

A. Water is your friend

  • Our bodies are 2/3 water and we always need more of it
  • Water helps all bodily functions work for efficiently

B. ONLY 100% Fruit Juice

  • Fruit juice that is not 100% is just sugar water
  • 100% juices provide vitamins and minerals

C. Carbonation is BAD

  • Carbonation causes a reduction in calcium in the blood. Low calcium = weak and brittle bones
  • High sugar levels in colas increase the chance of developing diabetes

Now you have my ABCs for making healthy choices from drink and snack vending machines. So, when your are starving and you can only find a vending machine at your school follow these ABCs and it will help you maintain a healthy life.

For part 1:

ABC’s Of Healthy Food in Snack and Soda Vending Machines Part 1

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Healthy Vending, School Administration, School Vending, Students, Videos

Proof! Healthy Vending Machines in Schools Can Work

June 22, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment

Not everyone is sitting on their behinds waiting for the federal government to take action.  Many states have taken the initiative  to take preventative measures to fight child obesity. The city of Baltimore has taken it to next level. They hired a chef  to run their food programs throughout the schools districts.  He is Tony Geraci and he has created his own lunch that is shelf safe and very nutritious. Take a look at how successful the program has become.

Oh! Before you go. Did you notice that he created a shelf safe lunch? I know I did.  Not all food must be perishable fruits and vegetables.  It is possible to have healthy vending machines in schools.   Okay, I’ll let you go, but do not forget to keep reading below the video.

Examining Innovative Practices to Improve Child Nutrition: Tony Geraci

So what did you think? What a great idea to hire a chef to be in charge of how our children eat. Someone that took the time to understand the affects food have on us, what good food is, and how to motivate someone to eat something they swore they would never touch.  In particular I think the idea of creating a box lunch with healthy foods is genius.

We know kids love foods that come from boxes. Look at Lunchables! Why not use the data they already have that says kids love opening boxes.  Best of all he made so it is shelf safe this means it can be used in a vending machine. Schools should adopt a program such as this and one possibility is to use vending machines to serve them, which will cut down the number of employees.  I’m in favor a saving the money for teachers, plus it will make our kids eat healthy at schools. Sounds like a win-win situation.

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, School Administration, School Vending, Students, Videos

Law Puts Vending Machines In Schools In Jepordy

June 21, 2010 By Brian Knopke 3 Comments
Capital Hill Behind a Hamburger

Captial Hill Decides on Junk Food

Today July 21, 2010 is the summer solstice but summer really began when, last week, most schools said goodbye to scholastics until September. Some kids will be going on family vacations, some will play video games till their eyes burn, and some will be working.  Whatever they choose I hope they do with their health on the mind.  While the kids are at play the school administrations must keep a close eye on the topic of vending machines in schools.

Many schools have candy and soda machines and soon their contents may be a banned. It could be detrimental to vending operators and the schools that depend on the extra revenue. VMIS will be following the lawmaker’s decisions on vending machines in schools when the Childhood Nutrition Act becomes eligible for reauthorization this summer.

Decision makers are going to make a change because childhood obesity is a pressing issue and one that will only be solved with the prevention and nutrition education.  I know Michelle Obama has started a campaign to promote physical activities called “Let’s Move”, but without a healthy nutritious diet this will not solve the obesity problem.

Michelle Obama in a Hoola-Hoop

Michelle Obama "Let's Move"

Chocolate Donettes for a 6 pack have 360 calories and 200 of them are from fat. Add a 12 oz. coke and you are looking 500 calories with little to know nutritional value.  Do to lack of nutrients the kids will feel hungry again and they will have to snack again and if they eat the same thing they would have consumed 1000 calories.

For a 75 lb. person who only burns 50 calories/mile they would have to run 20 miles to burn 1000 extra calories.  20 miles!!! I can barley run 5 miles. Now I know the first lady had the best of intentions, and exercise is great for a healthy life style, but the focus needs to be on diet more than anything

I am sure there is going to be some hard decisions made this summer. How would you decide? Are you in favor of an all out ban or should the law say healthy choices are encouraged?

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Healthy Vending, School Administration, School Vending Tagged With: , , , ,

Will Congress Ban Vending Machines in Schools?

June 16, 2010 By Brian Knopke Leave a Comment
Vending-Machines-In-Schools

Vending Machines In Schools

Yesterday President Barrack Obama announced that he was going to restrict the use of vending machines in schools. The president specifically spoke of the sugary high calorie low nutrition snacks and beverages.

Now for most of you out there this may look like a complete ban on vending machines in all schools. But wait! Why would we ban a source of income for the schools when funding is getting harder and harder to obtain. So, first we took away the snacks children use to fill their little bellies and source of income for after school programs. This is no solution. Instead of taking away, why don’t we give? Utilizing healthy vending machines in schools is just one step of giving.

Everyone knows that people eat on different schedules and have different nutritional needs. Vending machines allow children to access food when they are hungry, and having this access is essential to keeping children focused and on task.

For schools it means they do not need employees to serve the food and they can use the profits for afterschool programs. Studies show that children that participate in afterschool programs do better in school, learn how to make friends, and are generally happier. Schools have reported profits within a year of placing the healthy vending machines. With the extra funding these schools were able to provide uniforms, computers, and other activities.

Can we deny this from children? I may get violent if someone says no…

So where do we go from here. We see a problem and we see that there are solutions, but where to start.

First it starts with education (seems pretty easy being that the healthy vending machines would be in educational institutions). Educating minds and taste buds are vital for success. Once they learn the power of the eating well the machines will be emptied faster than the ones that were filled with junk.

Filed Under: Childhood Nutrition Bill, Healthy Vending, School Administration, School Vending, Students Tagged With: , , , , , , ,