Healthy Vending Machines Offer Snacking Alternatives to Students 

New vending machines offering healthy snacks have appeared in multiple buildings on campus. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, a study was conducted on a college campus with healthy vending machines. Four healthy vending machines were installed on campus, offering students an abundance of options. 

The results showed an increase in healthy purchases following the machine’s installation. Vending machines offer promising opportunities to promote healthier food and beverage choices on campuses. 

Khary Biby is the Assistant Director of Health and Fitness at the University of Central Oklahoma. Biby aided in bringing the vending machines to the UCO campus for students and staff alike. 

Biby said that the new vending machines were installed two and a half weeks ago. 

“They actually have been on campus before with a different vendor,” Biby said. However, Biby said that the past contract had expired. 

From there, the Wellness Center started the search for a new vendor to bring healthy snack choices to campus. 

“We sent out requests, and we selected a different vendor for our vending machines,” Biby said. 

The company for the new vending machines is Green Machine Vending. The slogan on the vending machines says, “The choice to eat healthy.” 

Biby sees the vending machines as an opportunity for students to make healthier snacking choices. 

“It just provides healthier options for the UCO community, whether it be students, faculty, staff, or visitors,” Biby said. “Just for them to have healthier options for food and drink choices.” 

The vending machines follow certain rules and protocols. The snacks in the vending machines cannot be snacks of all types, such as potato chips and soda. 

“The healthy vending machines have to meet certain nutritional value,” Biby said. “If they’re too high with calories or sugar, they won’t be placed with the machines. It provides a way for you to have better nutrition on the go.” 

Snacks include Skinny Pop, Sun Chips, and Clif Energy Bars. The snack selection in each vending machine differs, but they all contain nutritional value. 

Biby said that only five vending machines are on campus currently. The five places selected for the vending machines are the Wellness Center, the Chambers Library, the Human and Environmental Science building, and the Nigh University Center. 

“If the machines do well, we have options to add more vending machines on campus,” Biby said. 

Biby said that she does not know where the current popularity of the vending machines stands yet. However, Biby has seen one significant change since the healthy vending machines arrived on campus. 

“Here at the Wellness Center, I’ve seen more students buying drinks out of that machine,” Biby said. 

The drinks offered in the vending machines range from water bottles, protein shakes, Poppi, and Alani energy drinks. The drinks are in a row below the plethora of healthy snack choices. 

Biby said that the Wellness Center is unique for the fact that there are only two vending machines, one from Pepsi. The healthy vending machine is the only machine in the Wellness Center that offers snacks.