September 23, 2009

Healthy options remain after vending machine switch

University Food Stores recently changed vendors and programs, but healthier snack options will still be available in campus vending machines.

In fact, one of the reasons behind the vendor switch -- AVI Food Systems to Canteen -- is to provide snack-eaters with even healthier food options.

The green spirals -- which AVI Food Systems used to denote healthier snack options -- have not gone away, says Karen Hosterman, a registered dietician for WorkLife Programs. Rather, the NAC for Snack Program is now gone.

The replacement program, Balanced Choices, will operate similarly to its predecessor. It simply has different nutrition criteria. The new program allows snacks with a slightly higher number of calories to be considered healthier. However, compared to the old criteria, Balanced Choices requires snacks to contain less sodium in order to be considered a healthier option.

Shelly Cochran, director of Food Stores, says, "The goal is to provide customers with a healthier choice item when considering a snack."

Cochran says Food Stores has required Canteen to stock at least one-third of each vending machine with healthier items.

"All 155 Canteen food and hot beverage machines on campus are in the program," says Cochran. "In the hot beverage machines you will find decaffeinated beverage choices, and in the frozen food category you will find strawberry ice bars and lean entrée options."

Other examples of healthier snack options include baked chips, rice cakes, pretzels, fruit snacks, nuts, granola bars and sunflower seeds. Hosterman says that in order for a snack to be considered "healthier," it must meet the following criteria:

* Have 250 calories or fewer per package.

* Contain no more than 35 percent total calories from fat.

* Have no more than 1 1/2 grams of saturated fat, or less than 10 percent of total fat.

* Have no trans fat.

* Contain no more than 350 milligrams of sodium.

* Have no more than 35 grams of carbohydrates.

Nuts and seeds are exempt from the total fat restrictions due to their fiber, vitamin E and healthier fat content. However, they must still meet the requirements for sodium and calories, Hosterman says.

Hosterman also notes that although healthier options are being provided in University vending machines, students and faculty shouldn't make eating out of them an excessive habit.

"As an example, instead of full fat potato chips, we can substitute baked chips instead," Hosterman says. "Does that mean baked chips are healthy for you? Not necessarily, but they do provide a healthier option compared to the regular chips.

"Another example would be granola bars. Some of them are
just disguised candy bars. The criteria allowed us to put some of the lower calorie and lower sugar ones in the green spirals."

For more information on a healthier lifestyle, visit www.purdue.edu/worklife.