Fresh Healthy Vending Takes Aim at the Nation's Looming Obesity Crisis

By the year 2030, 40 percent of Americans will be obese

Vending machines have traditionally been notoriously known as a "junk food haven."  For decades they have overflowed school campuses, business offices and shopping malls, giving customers convenient access to unhealthy foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a dramatic increase in obesity rates over the last 20 years, for both adults and children. In fact, they report that one-third of the nation’s adults are considered obese, and 17 percent of children are as well. This has lead to a lot of parents to re-think things like snacking.  

America is a country that loves its tomatoes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not only do we produce around $2 billion worth of tomatoes per year, making us the second largest tomato producing country in the world, but tomatoes are also the 4th most popularly eaten produced vegetable in the country (although technically it’s a fruit). There are a lot of health and taste reasons to use tomatoes; it’s just a matter of knowing which ones to use, and when.

“Tomatoes are the first major garden item to ripen,” explains Chef Scott Jenkins, the chef of Arlington-based Extra Virgin restaurant. “Tomatoes are so versatile and flavorful, the possibilities seem endless. It is truly the work horse of an Italian kitchen, from soups and salads to sauces and main entree features.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is a major issue facing the people of America today. In fact, they report that around a third of all adults and 17 percent of all children are considered to be obese. One thing that most people have in common is that we snack throughout the day and, without our realizing it, those snack choices can do a lot to help or hinder our weight loss and wellness efforts. In fact, it’s important to keep in mind that not all snacks are created equal, and it’s crucial that people opt for healthy ones.

“Research shows that snacking makes up around 27 percent of a child’s daily calories,” explains Dan Negroni, the chief executive officer and president of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). “This means that it is crucial that we teach children to opt for healthy snacks. And that starts by us adults modeling healthy snacking behavior.”